linguistic determinism
this morning, when i woke, the first thing i did was groan. i usually can sleep in on tuesdays, but with my new schedule, i have my first class at 11:00. i did not want to come to discussion this morning.
said discussion is for my anthropology 2D lecture. linguistic anthropology. i took this class because i couldn't get into linguistics 30 since it was full and i didn't want to forget all the linguistics i had learned. so this is sort of a refresher course and it conveniently satisfies my social sciences requirement as well.
the discussion was actually interesting.
linguistic determinism is the title of a theory of linguistics that claims that language determines peoples' thought process. we were supposed to discuss in groups for ten minutes and then present our gatherings. is it true or not? can it be supported, or is it a ridiculous theory?
this is what i brought to the table:
- some languages in Africa do not have a word equivalent to the english word "maybe". so the idea of "maybe" is lost in translation. i do believe that this effects the way some Africans think because they can only think in terms of "yes" or "no". does this mean, however, that everything is definite in their culture? i would hope not. i am sure they must deal with difficult moral decisions where "maybe" is sometimes the only available answer. do they not understand the concept of multiple outcomes and consequences for a certain action? i don't think so. so linguistic determinism does in a way determine a peoples thought processes, but maybe only culturally.
- what about languages that are derived from other languages or have traces of foreign languages in the vocabulary? take English: it borrows plenty of terms from french, latin, etc. does this mean that people who speak english and french think the same way? i don't think so.
- what about the syntax and grammar of other languages? does the different structure of sentences in each language somehow effect in what order that certain person thinks in? when, in mandarin chinese, one word has multiple meanings, does it mean that the Chinese are deeper thinkers? i doubt this as well. everyone has the capacity to think with depth, nevermind the complexities in their language. after all, all the languages in the world are equally complex. and that is a fact.
- written language also challenges the idea of linguistic determinism. the Chinese and Japanese write in characters. does this mean that they learn visually better than others? in the Roman alphabet, one letter has no meaning on its own. but with characters, one character has a meaning. it is also true that every line in that character represents a thought. these characters have such subtleties that one visual is compact with information. what does this say about how the Chinese and Japanese think?
none of us had a definite opinion, however. it is too difficult a question to answer in the 45 minutes allotted to us, but we had some really good discussion. someone mentioned that whenever he speaks Spanish he is more polite than usual and that the language makes it difficult to be impolite. i wonder if this is true?
then our TA asked us another question: is language necessary for thought?
some of us argued what constituted thought. there is always instinct and intuition, but actual thought is different from these. some argued that language is only necessary when one wants to communicate thought, but otherwise, one could still think internally without language.
i wasn't, and am still, not sure. if the evolutionary process of humans is accurate, we lived extremely primitive lives before speech, our survival based on instinct and intuition. it is hard for me to believe there was any kind of significant thought without language back then. but at the same time, there is emotion without language. but emotion and thought aren't the same things, are they?
so, even though attending discussion is mandatory, i'm glad i went. it was eye-opening.
3 Comments:
Language and linguistics are way beyond my limits of intellect. I use them, not study them after all, so I’ll answer in base of what I know, meaning my native language, Spanish.
Whoever said that they speak more formally when speaking is Spanish is completely correct. Have you not noticed that while I write, even when speaking in English it is overly polite? Spanish, in and of itself is a very strict language, with insurmountable rules of pronunciation and correctness. If and when Spanish is properly spoken, it is a very beautiful, strong and formal language.
That’s why, something that I particularly like about English is its flexibility, yet, still, when speaking in English some of the formality and strict thought arrangement parameters of Spanish are woven into the mix. Have you not noticed that even when speaking in MSN some of my wording comes as somewhat stiff? A bit too formal?
I think that the idea has merit, because for whatever reason, the stringent thought process involved in Spanish, leeks into my English, something that I have thrived to prevent when talking in a casual way; Something that to do in Spanish requires a degradation of the language. You cannot talk casually in Spanish without somewhat violating the rules that govern the language. Weird, huh?
As for the thought process, I don’t think that language is required, but still, the language and rules of the language that you grew up knowing, in some way or another, influence your thought process. One thing is to think out loud, trying to describe your emotions with words, but basic thought does not need the aid of linguistics. They just are.
In any case, if you can make sense of that, you will become my new hero. Oh! and do put on some eye dromps. When you have an eye opening experience it usually leaved the eye dry and irritated...
that is interesting! but you're right, i have noticed how english is different when you use it, and i don't mean in reference to the grass. i've noticed it especially in your writing: its very intricate and formal and heavy but beautiful, like brocade. whenever i read english translations of poetry originally in spanish, the language is the same way, formal and correct, but strangely...rich. very, very interesting.
oh, and i don't think i congratulated you yet on finishing Uni. you did say on MSN that you finished, right? well congratulations!
and now, as i understand, you are going to travel?
as for the eyedrops, i do like to keep them handy. :P
And really...what language do people who are multilingual think in?
I once had a French teacher who's first language was Italian, then French, then English. But she taught French as a second language in an English school. So when she was sitting there, eating her lunch...what language did she think in?
I asked her once...and I think she said whatever language the situation required.
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