ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Holophrastic indeterminacy

Hello there! So, have you ever tried talking to a baby and they just kind of make a bunch of sounds without actually saying any real words yet? Well, that's because babies are still learning how to talk and understand language.

Now, imagine that you are trying to understand what a baby is saying, but they only say one word or sound and you're not sure what they mean. This is what we call holophrastic indeterminacy.

Basically, it means that we're not sure what a baby really means when they say something because they don't have the ability to use full sentences and communicate effectively yet. It's like trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces!

But as babies grow and develop their language skills, they will eventually be able to express themselves more clearly and we'll be able to understand what they mean when they talk. So, don't worry - it's all part of the learning process!