The Connection Between Chess and Language

At first glance, chess and language are worlds apart, one a strategy board game, the other our main tool of communication and expression. Closer inspection, however, reveals deep and interesting connections between these two areas. Both chess and language are grounded in structure, pattern, and their respective capabilities to represent meaning. The ways these normally very different areas can potentially cross over and interlink are discussed here.

1. Structure and Syntax: Grammar of Chess Just as there are rules in a language for the structure of sentences, or syntax, and rules for word usage, or grammar, there is a complex network of rules in chess that determine how pieces move, how they interact with other pieces, and their positioning on the board. In a larger sense, you could say you are creating "sentences" when you make moves, where each piece behaves much like a word would in a sentence. For instance, the Pawn can correspond to simple nouns while the Queen poses as more complex verb and adjective, or when Rooks get connected. Much as in the logic of language, the game's logic must be followed if any meaningful communication between the players is to take place. Structure is thus integral in both language and chess to its function and mastery.
2. Cognitive Skills: Whetting the Mind Chess playing and mastering language require an extremely high order of cognitive function, memory, pattern recognition, and planning. Much like chess requires one to think several moves in advance, so too does the language learner need to anticipate and understand the structure of a sentence they hear or read. Proficiency in either is thus developed through strong problem-solving and abstract reasoning skills. Indeed, studies reveal that chess players have better memory recall, and that obviously plays a strong role in pattern recognition-skills similarly important when one is learning a new language. So while you are playing chess, you sharpen the way the brain handles linguistic tasks-whether you like it or not.
3. Chess as Universal Language: Another interesting parallel between chess and language can be observed in how both transcend cultural and linguistic barriers. Chess has been referred to as the "universal language" in which people from all countries and cultures can sit down and play without speaking a word to one another. Its rules are understood everywhere, not unlike the structure of language, through which an idea can be communicated across boundaries. There is also a notational system in chess whereby the moves are recorded as "e4" or "Nf6", for example, which bears parallels to linguistic syntax. The notational system of chess allows players to record and "communicate" moves in a universal format that can be understood anywhere in the world, whether in a written game record or a published chess puzzle.
4. Learning Chess Is Like Learning a Language: Learning chess is similar to learning a new language; you start by learning the "vocabulary"-that is, which pieces move how-and then, while still learning vocabulary, you begin to learn "grammar" in the form of tactics, strategies, and opening systems. You gradually learn to combine these elements in more complex ways, building more sophisticated sentences and ideas, so to speak. Mastery in either discipline requires constant practice. Just as speaking a language will help you to converse more, with more practice in chess, you can anticipate moves, recognize patterns, and strategize games.
5. Pattern Recognition: The Heart of Chess and Language Essentially, both chess and language rely heavily on pattern recognition. For language, these are going to be related to either grammar rules, sentence structure, or common phrasing. This would take the form of a recurring tactical motif, strategic theme, and recognizable position in chess. Chess players learn to identify these patterns on the board in much the same way proficient language users recognize the patterns in sentences. Mastery of both chess and language often depends upon how fast and accurately one can recognize such patterns and react to them appropriately. This is probably not an accident and simply explains why strong chess players tend to be equally good at language or vice-versa.
6. Narrative and Storytelling: Games as Stories, chess games like stories, have a beginning, a middle, and an end. There is an opening stage to set everything up, building tension and conflict during the middlegame, while resolution in the form of victory or defeat will be established in the endgame. In large measure, a chess game is a story, each step telling something and continuing the story. Just as authors outline the course of surprises and turns their stories take, so, too, chess players 'plot out' strategic surprises and tactical decisions that change the course of events dramatically. This narrative element no doubt adds another layer of depth to chess and reflects the storytelling nature that language possesses.
7. Cultural Connections: Chess and Language as Expressions of Culture Chess is saturated with culture, as is language. The way chess is played, taught, and discussed often reflects cultural values and historical traditions, just as languages evolve to reflect the societies in which they are used. Much as regional dialects exist in language, different countries have developed their own "dialects" of chess in terms of favored opening systems and styles of play. The Soviet school of chess sharp and tactical may reflect the greater emphasis that has traditionally been placed on depth by this region, while the more positional play of the classical school may mirror different cultural attitudes. So too does language develop to meet the needs and values of its speakers.
8. Symbolism: Pieces and Words as Symbols First, both chess and language deal with symbols; words in a language are meant to denote objects, actions, or ideas, while pieces in chess Pawns, Knights and Bishops are symbolic of different assignments and functions within the game. The interaction of these symbols involves some rules across both areas, with the general goal in mind being effective communication, be it getting the message across through words or checkmate through the pieces. Chess terms have even entered everyday language: phrases like "checkmate," "stalemate," and "pawn" have become metaphors for real-life situations, showing just how intertwined chess and language can be in our everyday lives.

Chess and Language—A Shared Art of Expression At the core, chess and language are more alike than they appear. Both are based on structure, pattern recognition, and communication, and both have means of telling stories in unique ways. It happens to the words or chess pieces on a board, with meaningful moves: a method of structured, symbolic communication drawing on profound cognitive capacities of the human brain. So, the next time you are playing chess, think about the contest of minds as a conversation-one in a universal language.