Have you ever wondered if the language you speak shapes the way you think?
Humans, the brilliant beings that they are, have created thousands of languages and ways to communicate throughout history, each tailored to or tailoring the way they see the world!
Does your native tongue make you more aware of your cardinal directions or perhaps better able to identify colours? Does it affect the way we think about time or how we describe different objects? Lera Boroditsky, a cognitive scientist, has the answer to these questions. She has travelled around the world learning about the ways different languages shape the way we think.
The best way to learn a new language is to surround yourself with people who speak it. Why not learn Russian in Russia to better identify blues. Or better yet learn an endangered language, like Nawat in El Salvador, to help keep a way of thinking alive!
Do you think the language you speak, shapes the way you think? Let me know how in the comment section below.