How Language Shapes the Way We Think • Professor Lera Boroditsky • Duocon 2022

Summary

This insightful talk explores how language influences thought, highlighting the differences in spatial and temporal understanding among speakers of various languages. By examining the Kuuk Thaayorre people’s use of cardinal directions and the impact of grammatical gender in German and Spanish, the speaker illustrates that language shapes perception, memory, and even concepts of blame. As linguistic diversity declines, the talk urges reflection on how our own language molds our worldview and emphasizes the potential for learning new ways to think through language acquisition.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Language allows humans to transmit ideas across time and space, showcasing the unique capabilities of our species.
• 🧠 The question of whether different languages shape thought has been debated for centuries, with opinions ranging from Charlemagne's to Shakespeare's.
• 🗺️ Some languages, like Kuuk Thaayorre, use cardinal directions instead of left and right, influencing how speakers orient themselves in space.
• ⏳ Kuuk Thaayorre speakers conceptualize time based on landscape orientation rather than body direction, illustrating a unique reference frame for time.
• 🎨 Language affects color perception, as seen in Russian speakers distinguishing between light blue and dark blue more readily than English speakers.
• ⚖️ Grammatical gender in languages can influence how speakers perceive objects, with different genders affecting adjective choices and associations.
• 📝 How events are described varies by language, impacting memory and attention; for example, English speakers remember who did something, while others may focus on the event's nature.
• 🧩 Language diversity reflects the ingenuity of the human mind, capable of creating numerous conceptual frameworks.
• 📉 The loss of linguistic diversity is a pressing issue, with many languages predicted to disappear, which narrows scientific understanding of the human mind.
• 🤔 Learning a new language may not just be about new expressions but can offer entirely new perspectives and ways of thinking about the world.

Q & A

How does the speaker illustrate the unique ability of humans to use language?

The speaker highlights that humans can combine familiar words to create new ideas, demonstrating the power of language to transmit thoughts across time and space.

What are the implications of Charlemagne's statement about having a second language?

Charlemagne suggests that learning a second language enriches one's cognitive and emotional experiences, implying that language is deeply tied to identity and thought.

How does the Kuuk Thaayorre language influence spatial orientation among its speakers?

Speakers of Kuuk Thaayorre use cardinal directions instead of left and right, which enhances their ability to stay oriented and navigate their environment effectively.

In what way does language affect how individuals conceptualize time?

The Kuuk Thaayorre language treats time as tied to the landscape, resulting in speakers organizing events based on the direction of the Sun, rather than the orientation of their bodies.

What does the example of color distinctions in Russian and English demonstrate?

It shows that language can affect perception; Russian speakers, who differentiate between light blue and dark blue, are quicker to recognize changes between these colors compared to English speakers.

How does grammatical gender in languages like Spanish and German influence thought?

Grammatical gender assigns characteristics to nouns, leading speakers to associate feminine and masculine attributes with objects, which influences their descriptions and perceptions.

What effect does language have on memory and attention in event recall?

Language shapes focus; English speakers tend to remember the agent in an accident, while speakers of other languages might recall the nature of the accident instead, affecting perceptions of blame.

Why is linguistic diversity important for understanding the human mind?

Linguistic diversity provides insights into various ways of thinking and perceiving the world, which can help broaden scientific understanding beyond the limitations of studying predominantly English-speaking populations.

What challenges does the loss of languages pose for scientific research?

The extinction of languages narrows the basis of research in cognitive science, potentially leading to biased conclusions that do not represent the diverse human experience.

What reflective questions does the speaker encourage the audience to consider regarding language?

The speaker invites the audience to think about how their own language shapes their thoughts and to explore whether learning new languages opens up new ways of thinking about the world.