Language, as a system of acquiring and using complex structures of communication, is distinguished between two components in theory of knowledge; language as a tool and language as reality.
There are several manners in which language is used as a tool and in which aids cognition; one is memory augmentation, in which language allows the environment as an extra-cranial memory store such as physical materials capable of systematically storing large and complex quantities of information, for example artifactual texts.
Secondly, environmental simplification; which is linguistic labels used to simplify the human environment. These labels, once learned reduce the cognitive effort involved in everyday activities such as names of physical objects in our surroundings.
The third method of language used as a tool is Co-ordination and the Reduction of on-line deliberation. Language in this fashion allows clear plan coordination of actions. Words allow more efficient organisation and reduced memory load of complex representation. An example of this is instructions for an activity one carries out.
Another method includes the avoidance of path dependence, which is a function of cognition that is strongly dependent on your brain systems previous experience. Language, through the possibility of communication, allows difficulty to make experience of a successful individual available to others avoidable. Language in a way allows problem solving to become a communal and cumulative activity.
Lastly, the mangrove effect, as a tool of language is responsible for a complex of distinctive features of human thought which contributes to self-evaluation, self-criticism, and counteractive responses. 1
Language as a tool facilitates many areas of knowledge. Memory augmentation and avoidance of path dependence plays an important role in human sciences such as history; which allows for storing historical information and previous