Aydın Tiryaki and Claude Sonnet 4.5 AI

Introduction

Aydın Tiryaki’s study, prepared in collaboration with Gemini AI and titled “Tip of My Tongue: A Universal Mental Bridge and the Anatomy of a Doubt,” presents a fascinating examination of how a local observation evolved into a universal discovery. This article evaluates the topics addressed in the study and explores some of the contentious points that emerge.

Main Theses of the Article

At the center of the study lies the striking similarity of the “tip of my tongue” expression across different languages:

• Turkish: Dilimin ucunda
• English: On the tip of my tongue
• French: Sur le bout de la langue
• Spanish: En la punta de la lengua
• Russian: Вертится на языке (Spinning on the tongue)

The author argues that this similarity is not coincidental, but rather represents a psycholinguistic universal. The human brain physically prepares the tongue to articulate a word, yet the mind cannot access it. This physical tension is expressed through similar metaphors across all languages.

The Value of Academic Doubt

One of the study’s strongest aspects is the author’s transparent sharing of the doubt process that began with the question: “Is this much similarity normal, or are we making a translation error?” This academic curiosity led to the discovery of a rare cross-linguistic “semantic mirror.” Such questioning lies at the heart of scientific thinking, and the approach of deeming worthy of deep investigation a similarity that many might overlook is commendable.

Linguistic Evaluation

The cross-linguistic similarity of the “tip of my tongue” phenomenon is indeed remarkable. However, it should be noted that such idiomatic similarities are not as rare as the study suggests. Within the framework of “embodied cognition” in cognitive linguistics literature, there are numerous examples showing how our physical experiences lead to similar metaphors across languages.

For example:

• The metaphor of “seeing” is used for “understanding” in many languages (English “I see”, Turkish uses visual metaphors for mental comprehension)
• Temperature metaphors for describing emotions are universal (“warm interest”, “cold behavior”)
• Spatial metaphors for time exist in nearly every language (“future”, “past”)

In this context, the “tip of my tongue” expression is a beautiful example of natural metaphorical development based on universal cognitive foundations.

The Chekhov Connection and the Cultural Diffusion Hypothesis

The reference to Anton Chekhov’s 1885 story “The Horse’s Name” in the article establishes an interesting cultural connection. However, a critical question emerges at this point: Did this idiom truly evolve independently in each language, or did the widespread influence of Russian literature play a role?

Arguments in Favor of Cultural Diffusion

1. The Impact of Russian Literature: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Russian literature had an enormous influence in Europe and later worldwide. Chekhov, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy were not only widely read but became central to intellectual discourse.
2. Chekhov’s Accessibility: Chekhov’s stories were short, easily translatable, and widely featured in anthologies. A humorous story about memory like “The Horse’s Name” could easily seep into readers’ everyday conversations.
3. Reception in Turkey: Russian classics garnered great interest in Turkey, especially after the Republic era. They were virtually required reading for left-leaning intellectual circles.

Arguments in Favor of Independent Evolution

1. Historical Precedence: This idiom was used in languages like English, French, and Spanish long before Chekhov. There are traces of this expression in English dating back to the 18th century.
2. Universal Cognitive Foundation: The experience of the tongue being physically ready but the word not coming is so powerful and universal that similar metaphors emerging independently in different languages is quite plausible.
3. Geographic Diversity: Investigating how this expression is rendered in languages with different historical relationships to Russian literature (Chinese, Japanese, African languages) could test the diffusion hypothesis.

Synthesis: Both Possibilities Together

Perhaps the most accurate approach is to acknowledge that these two mechanisms work together:

1. Independent Formation: The idiom likely formed independently in different languages because the underlying physical experience is universal.
2. Cultural Reinforcement: However, the popularity of Russian literature may have contributed to the standardization and widespread use of these expressions. Literature may have made an already existing expression more visible and normalized its usage.

The “Cognitive Orthosis” Project

The author’s idea of transforming this phenomenon into a technology project addresses a modern need. In the digital age, the enormous increase in names, concepts, and references makes this “tip of my tongue” experience more frequent.

The emphasis on the project being “dignity-preserving” and “silent” is particularly important. Technology assisting people naturally, without causing embarrassment, is a critical design principle. This approach emphasizes that assistive technology must be not only functional but also empathetic.

Conclusion

Aydın Tiryaki’s study is a valuable example of how a local observation can transform into a universal insight. The process by which academic doubt leads to scientific discovery is documented transparently.

However, a more nuanced approach is needed regarding the origins of the phenomenon. Cross-linguistic similarities may be based on both universal cognitive foundations and cultural diffusion mechanisms. Acknowledging that these two explanations do not exclude but rather complement each other better reflects the complexity of the topic.

Recommendation for future research: Investigating the presence and historical development of similar expressions in language communities with minimal interaction with Russian literature would be valuable for testing the cultural diffusion hypothesis.

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This evaluation emerged from a discussion of Aydın Tiryaki’s article “Tip of My Tongue: A Universal Mental Bridge and the Anatomy of a Doubt.”

Aydın Tiryaki and Claude Sonnet 4.5 AI
Ankara, December 27, 2025

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A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)