TALKING BACKWARDS (Backwards Banter Brain Testing) - Smarter Every Day 168 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

In this video, Destin from Smarter Every Day tests the limits of someone's ability to talk backwards, gradually increasing the complexity of the tasks to see how the brain reacts.

Key Insights

• 👂 Talking backwards requires phonetically recreating sounds in reverse order.
• 👂 Certain sounds, like plosives, are challenging to pronounce accurately backwards.
• 🧠 Multitasking and distractions can affect the brain's ability to maintain the backward talking skill.
• 💦 Kurt's ability to talk backwards is a result of hard work and practice.
• 😯 The brain's algorithms for speech production are fascinating and complex.
• 😯 The physical limitations of producing sounds backwards highlight the intricacies of speech.
• 😋 Talking backwards requires the coordination of the tongue, teeth, and lips to control airflow and pressure.

Transcript

hey it's me Destin welcome back to smarter every day. A while back on the smarter every day subreddit someone made a post that said something like no one ever believes that I can talk backwards. This caught my eye and I watched the video and it was fascinating it's a skill this guy has clearly worked very very hard on it. If you remember in the bac... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Kurt's ability to talk backwards work?

Kurt phonetically recreates the sounds of letters in reverse order, using his tongue, teeth, and lips to control airflow and pressure.

Q: Why are plosive sounds difficult to make backwards?

Plosive sounds require pressurizing the mouth and releasing the air, which is challenging to recreate instantly. Kurt uses tricks to simulate the sound effectively.

Q: How does the brain react when distracted?

When distracted, Kurt's brain struggles to maintain the backward talking skill, showing the limitations of multitasking.

Q: Why does Kurt find it embarrassing when he makes mistakes?

Kurt sees talking backwards as a challenge, and not getting it right feels like failing. It's a matter of personal pride and accomplishment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kurt Quinn can talk backwards and Destin wants to test the limits of this skill.

• Starting with one word, Destin gradually makes the tasks more challenging, including holding animals and playing the banjo.

• The brain has a complex algorithm to recreate sounds backwards, and certain sounds, like plosives, require specific techniques to be pronounced backwards.