According to Lera Boroditsky, "the languages we speak not only reflect or express our thoughts, but also shape the very thoughts we wish to express. The structures that exist in our languages profoundly shape how we construct reality, and help make us as smart and sophisticated as we are." As one familiar with multiple languages, I am quite sympathetic to this viewpoint. This is largely why every vanishing language feels like a great loss to me. In an exchange with Joshua Knobe, Ms. Boroditsky sheds more light on the topic (via Cognition and Culture).
Here is a related video (~10 mins) and an article based on a study that may be of interest to SN readers:
1. A reading from a work by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, perhaps the greatest writer from East Africa, on decolonizing the mind. Very good!
2. Change languages, shift responses: Study of bilinguals suggests such switches can help to shape preferences
Posted by: Namit | November 05, 2010 at 10:40 AM