Matilde Marcolli, a mathematician at Caltech, has developed a new mathematical framework for Noam Chomsky's model of language, using ideas from theoretical physics. Chomsky's latest model, the minimalist program, simplifies language into a single computational operation called "merge," which combines elements of a sentence. Marcolli used Hopf algebras, a mathematical tool used in theoretical physics, to describe this merge operation. She worked with Chomsky and Bob Berwick to create a forthcoming book explaining this mathematical approach to language. Marcolli also taught a course and hosted workshops at Caltech on this topic, bringing together experts from various fields. This research supports Chomsky's philosophy that language should be studied using the methods and tools of the physical sciences.
