Mathematics as a Language: Learning to Speak in Numbers

Nonthapat Hansiri
Jul 28
2 min read

Updated: Aug 29

When we think of language, we often think of Thai, English, or Chinese. But there’s another universal language that crosses all borders—mathematics.

Just like any spoken language, math has grammar, structure, vocabulary, and meaning. The more fluently students learn to “speak math,” the more confidently they can think, solve problems, and communicate ideas.

What Does It Mean to Say “Math is a Language”?

A language is a system for representing and communicating ideas. Mathematics:

Uses symbols and numbers (like words)
Follows rules and syntax (like grammar)
Builds meaning from context (just like spoken sentences)
Has dialects depending on context (algebra, geometry, calculus)

Example:

The expression 3(x + 2) can be “read” as “three groups of x plus two”—a sentence describing structure.

Why Viewing Math as a Language Matters

1. It Makes Math Less Scary

If students see math as just formulas to memorize, they feel lost. But if they understand it as a language they can learn and use, they become more confident.

2. It Builds Conceptual Understanding

Just like students don’t learn English by memorizing only grammar rules, they shouldn’t learn math by rote either. They must:

Understand the “why”
Use examples
Practice communicating ideas with visuals, words, and symbols

📚 Research: Sfard (2008) described learning math as acquiring a discourse—a way of talking, thinking, and reasoning about the world.

Vocabulary Matters in Math

Common Term	Misunderstood As...	What It Actually Means
“Product”	Something you buy	The result of multiplication
“Difference”	A comparison or opinion	The result of subtraction
“Table”	A dining object	A structured set of numbers or values

These misunderstandings highlight why math vocabulary needs to be taught explicitly—just like new words in a foreign language.

How to Help Children Speak Math

✅ Encourage Math Talk

Ask: “How did you solve that?” instead of “What’s the answer?”
Prompt: “Explain this to me like I don’t know math.”

✅ Use Multiple Representations

Let kids draw, use words, and write equations to explain one idea
Example: Represent “half of 8” as:
- Drawing 8 dots and circling 4
- Writing ½ × 8 = 4
- Saying “Half of eight is four”

✅ Connect to Real-Life Stories

Turn math into a narrative: “If 3 friends share 12 candies, how many do they each get?” → Builds number sense through storytelling.

A Truly Universal Language

Math is used to track climate change, design buildings, understand pandemics, and analyze music.
Astronomers believe that if we ever contact alien life, math—not English—will be the first shared language.