Symbols are substitutes for concepts in the thought process.
Symbolization, the next link in our communication chain, at first glance seems like a totally useless cognitive skill with no survival value.
Upon closer examination, however, it can be seen to be an exceedingly effective currency for the transmission of our thoughts.
It is estimated that college students have around 100,000 words in their lexicon.
This number of words alone would avail humans of a fine grain of communication.
But the practice of putting words into combinations to express thoughts lifts any limits to its power.
With just a small number of words, the possible number of sentences that can be generated is astronomical.
Of course, equal to the prowess of humans to store symbols is their ability to quickly retrieve them.