How the Languages We Speak Shape the Ways We Think

Summary

In this panel discussion on knowledge, cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky explores the influence of language on thought. She delves into how different languages, with their unique vocabularies and grammatical structures, shape our cognitive abilities. Through examples like spatial orientation in cardinal directions and the conceptualization of time, Boroditsky illustrates the profound impact language has on navigational skills, mathematical thinking, and even memory. She emphasizes the importance of linguistic diversity, suggesting that each of the world's approximately 7,000 languages provides a distinct cognitive toolkit, reflecting the human mind's ingenuity and adaptability.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Language is a powerful tool for creating ideas in others' minds through the use of sounds and words.
• 🌐 There are approximately 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, each with unique characteristics that can influence thought processes.
• 🧭 Some languages require speakers to maintain a sense of direction, leading to enhanced navigational abilities compared to those who speak languages that use relative directions like left and right.
• 🕒 Different languages can shape the way people perceive and conceptualize time, with some using spatial metaphors that align with writing direction or cardinal directions.
• 🔢 The presence or absence of exact number words in a language can affect speakers' numerical cognition and their ability to engage in mathematical and scientific thinking.
• 🌈 Linguistic diversity is a testament to human ingenuity, with each language offering a unique perspective on the world.
• 🤔 Bilingual individuals carry knowledge systems from all languages they are proficient in, which can lead to shifts in thinking depending on the language they are using.
• 🌐 Language can influence cognitive abilities, such as memory and decision-making, and even affect how people perceive and describe objects and events.
• 🔄 The cognitive toolkit provided by a language is shaped by the ideas and tools that have been developed and refined by speakers over generations.
• 🌟 The exploration of linguistic diversity and its impact on cognition is an ongoing area of research with much still to be discovered.

Q & A

How does language influence our thoughts according to the speaker?

The speaker suggests that the language we speak shapes the way we think, as evidenced by various cognitive abilities that are influenced by language, such as spatial orientation, navigation, and the conceptualization of time.

What is the significance of the example about the ovulating zebra and the rhinoceros?

The example illustrates the power of language to create ideas in our minds through the pressure waves created by speech, highlighting the ability of language to convey complex and novel thoughts.

Why do some languages use cardinal directions instead of body-relative terms like 'left' and 'right'?

Languages that use cardinal directions like north, south, east, and west require speakers to maintain a constant awareness of their orientation, which can enhance their navigational skills.

How do speakers of languages that use cardinal directions differ from English speakers in terms of spatial orientation?

Speakers of languages that use cardinal directions tend to stay oriented and can perform navigational feats that are considered beyond the average human ability, unlike English speakers who often rely on body-relative terms.

What is the cognitive difference demonstrated when comparing the ability to point southeast in different cultures?

The cognitive difference is that young children in cultures where cardinal directions are used in everyday language can easily point southeast, while adults in cultures that do not may struggle with this task.

How does the way we talk about time vary across languages?

The way we talk about time can vary by using spatial language, such as organizing time from left to right in English, or from right to left in Hebrew and Arabic, or even orienting time from east to west in some cultures.

What is the impact of having exact number words in a language on cognitive abilities?

Having exact number words in a language can lead to better tracking of exact numbers, the development of mathematical concepts like algebra, and the ability to build complex structures, indicating a deep cognitive impact.

How does linguistic diversity reflect the human mind's ingenuity?

Linguistic diversity is a testament to the human mind's capacity to create multiple perspectives to describe the physical universe, with each language offering a unique cognitive toolkit that has been fine-tuned over generations.

What happens to a bilingual person's cognitive abilities when they switch between languages?

Bilingual individuals carry knowledge systems from all languages they are proficient in. When they switch languages, they may think more in line with the structures and concepts of the language they are currently using, but traces of other languages remain.

How does the concept of grammatical gender in language affect our thinking?

Grammatical gender can influence how we perceive objects or concepts as having masculine or feminine qualities, which can affect our memory and descriptions of events, showing how language structures can shape cognitive processes.

Why is it important to explore linguistic diversity in the context of cognitive science?

Exploring linguistic diversity is important because it helps us understand how different languages can shape thought processes, cultural practices, and cognitive abilities, contributing to a broader understanding of the human mind.