letters g-a-t-o have nothing to do with the furry mammal that purrs—rather, those letters were ascribed in
the Spanish language to mean that animal. English speakers have ascribed the letters c-a-t. Humans develop
abstract meaning from language as well, meaning they do not have to see an actual gato to be able to
imagine it or to be able to ascribe characteristics to it. People learn these signs as they age and internalize
their meanings so that they can react to them automatically or with little thought.