Introduction
Before Babel examines data in its primordial form—before it becomes encoded in language, symbols, or formal representations. While existing theories address how information behaves once symbolized, Before Babel operates at the ontological level that precedes symbolization itself.
This framework is not competitive with theories like Information Field Theory or Information Geometry, but rather operates at a fundamentally different ontological level. It examines the nature of data before it enters the symbolic domain that other theories address.
The Framework
Before Babel rests on three foundational concepts that describe data in its state prior to linguistic or symbolic encoding:
1. Primordial Data
Information exists in a form that precedes any symbolic representation. This primordial state is not yet language, not yet code, not yet formalized—yet it possesses structure, relationships, and internal coherence that can be observed and analyzed.
2. Pre-Narrative Form
Data in its primordial state exhibits patterns and structures that exist independently of how we choose to describe them. These patterns are inherent to the data itself, not imposed by our interpretative frameworks.
3. The Before Babel Space
There exists a conceptual space—the Before Babel Space—where data retains its primordial characteristics. In this space, we can observe structural properties, coherence relationships, and intrinsic patterns without requiring symbolic encoding.
Methodology
Working with primordial data requires a specific methodological approach that differs from traditional data analysis:
Step 1: Symbolic Suspension
Temporarily suspend the imposition of symbolic frameworks. Observe the data without immediately encoding it into predefined categories or linguistic structures.
Step 2: Structural Observation
Identify the inherent patterns, relationships, and coherence structures that exist within the data itself, independent of symbolic representation.
Step 3: Coherence Verification
Verify that observed structures maintain internal consistency and coherence before applying any symbolic encoding or linguistic framework.
Applications
The Before Babel framework provides foundational insights for several domains:
Information System Architecture: Understanding how data exists before symbolic encoding helps design systems that preserve primordial data characteristics through processing stages.
Ontological Engineering: Provides a foundation for understanding what ontologies attempt to capture—the structure of information before it becomes formalized.
Data Philosophy: Offers new perspectives on fundamental questions about the nature of information, meaning, and representation.
Position in the Field
Before Babel is orthogonal to, rather than competitive with, existing information theories. While theories like Information Field Theory and Information Geometry address how information behaves once encoded, Before Babel examines the ontological foundation that precedes encoding itself. This positioning makes the framework complementary to existing approaches rather than contradictory.