Quite frankly, there are approximately 7,000 languages, being spoken around the world. Each with its own set of sounds, vocabularies, and structures. But do they influence and shape how we think? Lera Boroditsky, a language and cognition professor, presented a ted talk on how languages “shape” and change the way we think. Moreover, The talk has received a whopping 10 million views on youtube, at this current date. Having talked about how languages differentiate themselves in the way we think about counting, looking at different colors and responding to others; Boroditsky recognized there are interactional differences between languages.
Shockingly, it is extremely fascinating how Boroditsky talks about how languages have these intrinsic traits to identify and interact in different ways. She uses the example of the Russian language, having different terms for shades of colors. This allows them to identify changes in color without thinking, due to their language in identifying the shades. Other examples like the Kuuk Thaayorre people in Cape York Australia, being able to use there senses as a compass. According to Boroditsky, they are able to close their eyes and tell you where the direction of “South West” is for example. Finally, she talks about how different languages, using the example of English and Spanish, having different meanings to their responses when an incident occurs. Boroditsky mentions how languages like Spanish, having an approach that is less to blame for the person commiting the incident. She uses an example of breaking a vase. Even if someone broke the vase, either by accident or intentionally, they would mention “the vase broke” instead of he or she broke the vase. This could indicate how Spanish speakers have identified the sense of not shaming others in the mistakes they do. Moreover, Boroditsky mentions, due to the not mentioning who broke the vase in this case, they are less likely to recall who did it and the situation as a whole.
Personally, i was shocked to hear this, how languages could help enhance or add traits that can be useful in your life. Learning the language of the Kuuk Thaayorre people for example, could help me identify routes when camping or hiking. I may not even have to use Google maps anymore! Moreover, learning the Russian language could help me identify shades colors as well as other undiscovered artifacts. Finally, learning the Spanish language could help with more discipline and respect when it comes to shaming and blaming. With over 7000 languages in the wild, the possibilities are limitless. You never know what could happen in 10 years time, maybe languages become skills in itself, that could help you in your life.
Discussion Questions
Could learning languages be the new way to learn different skills and traits? (Persuading, Critical thinking for example)
What languages do you speak and what are some traits and differences to other languages you have identified?
I really enjoyed reading through this post! This is the first time I encounter such ideas, and I think it is very interesting and eye-opening.
To answer your first question, after the video, I am convinced that learning new languages can actually help you develop new skills. Other than that the language you’ve learned is a skill itself, but the ability to understand certain traits of native speakers and use it when beneficial could also serve as a skill!
For the second question, I only speak Arabic and English, However, I’ve always felt that Arabic as a language is more descriptive than English. One word could have multiple meanings and the combination of words to form certain images is infinite. I also believe that this goes back to the focus on style or grammar in Arabic, “إعراب” as it changes the entire meaning of the sentence if done wrong, unlike with English.
This was super interesting, Rashed! I really enjoyed the TED talk. I speak Urdu and English, and I’ve noticed so many differences! For example, in Urdu, we have 2 different ways of saying ‘you,’ one that’s more formal and respectful and another that’s more informal and casual. You’d generally use the word ‘aap’ to address your elders and ‘tum’ to address your friends. Your post got me thinking about how that might actually impact our thoughts and behavior regarding respect, power dynamics, and social interactions. Also, I think you’d enjoy reading ‘The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes,’ by Malcolm Gladwell!
This is a great TED talk. Well done, Rashed!! Answering your first question, learning languages can certainly help you develop different skills and traits, such as cultural understanding, communication skills, and cognitive flexibility. One benefit to learning languages is Cultural understanding. Learning a new language often involves learning about the culture that the language is spoken in. This can help you develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for different cultures and ways of life. Therefore creating more tolerance amongst us. I speak 3 languages fluently and 2 half half, and I believe that different languages have different traits. Languages differ in many ways, including their grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation. These differences can impact the traits that are associated with each language.
Amazing job Rashed! It was truly an interesting read and the TED talk was great as well. Now, regarding the first discussion question, I think that learning new languages can undoubtedly provide individuals with new skills and traits. For instance, learning a language like Mandarin, which requires memorizing a large number of characters, could help in enhancing memory and concentration. Similarly, learning a language like German, known for its elaborate grammar can help develop critical thinking and analytical skills and so on.
As for the second discussion question, I speak Hindi, Urdu and a little bit of Arabic and Persian (Farsi). Since I am not as fluent in the later two. I will just be discussing hindi/urdu. I feel like in comparison to english, hindi is a lot more complex in terms of grammatical structure and the general syntax. The way that you pronounce words is also far different (phonemes and so on). Not to mention, the various different dialects that encapsulate the language as a whole :))
This is a really interesting post, Rashed! I’m not a psychology major but I took PSY 101 last year and we came across this theory in one of our classes: it’s called the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis! The idea is essentially what you describe here – that the language we speak informs and frames the way we view the world. For example, I’ve noticed I often resort to my native language, Urdu, when making a joke or when trying to speak more casually to someone. I also recently saw a post that said that non-native English speakers struggle with English because they expect the same richness from it as they find in their native language, and that the English language pales in comparison. I think it’s interesting to see what the dominance of English means/will mean for the future of other languages and the richness of the worldview they bring…
Learning languages is a beneficial way to develop new skills and traits . For example it can allow cultural understanding to become easier as you are likelier to learn customs while learning the language . It can also allow for career advancement as you can have skills that maybe useful which other people dont have allowing for you to work in more diverse and prosperous places/ learning languages can provide a range of benefits that extend beyond simply being able to speak another language. It can help develop important skills and traits that are valuable in many areas of life.
Thank you for this great blog Rashed!! This subject was covered in a psychology 101 course last spring, and it is a very fascinating one to investigate. The absence of the future tense in some languages makes speakers more likely to avoid deferring the task of the present to the future, which is another illustration of how language shapes perspective and understanding of the world, in my opinion. Also, because the future is not that far away for those who don’t use the future tense, they are more likely to save money and stay away from anything that can bring them harm in the future. It saddens me greatly that the elements that give languages their uniqueness are vanishing. When it comes to my understanding of Arabic especially the Egyptian dialect. I feel like the heavy reliance on the future tense allows people to procrastinate more. In some situations, saying “inshallah,” which means “if Allah wills it,” denotes that a task won’t get done soon or at all. In addition, several Arabic words that were only used in specific contexts are vanishing as a result of modernity. To explain, because Arabic is a very rich language, it has several words that refer to caring and describing for camels. Yet, because the majority of Arabic speakers nowadays do not own or care after camels, they are not familiar with these terminology.
This was a very interesting read! I have watched that TedTalk before, but I still rewatched it because it is so interesting to me. In my opinion, the topic of language and how it shapes our thinking is not talked about enough. We tend to undermine how much our language impacts plenty of small details in our daily life. Lastly, in response to your question, “Could learning languages be the new way to learn different skills and traits? (Persuading, Critical thinking for example)” I would say yes because learning languages is extremely easy nowadays and I think the upcoming generations will use this to their advantage to learn various skills and traits.
Reading this post after watching the film Arrival makes it even more interesting. Your argument supports the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, that speaking a certain language shapes how we think. I believe that is true. Language is greatly tied to culture, and thus, learning a language well can lead you to acquiring certain traits related to that culture.
Learning a language is always a great way to expand your horizon, as you will be exposed to the culture of a different group of people, their history, and their ever-changing views. However, it is not through language itself that one learns these traits. Rather, it is through understanding the intricacies and history of the language (subsequently, understanding the culture and history of the people) that one can acquire such traits. Language is simply the door.