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Apr 18, 2018
Translation industry news

Lera Boroditsky on how language shapes the way we think (TED talk)

Source: TED
Story flagged by: Jared Tabor

Here’s an interesting look at the different ways language may shape the way we think, with some fascinating examples from different languages/cultures around the world:

Comments about this article


Lera Boroditsky on how language shapes the way we think (TED talk)
potra
potra
United States
Local time: 09:00
Member (2007)
English to Italian
+ ...
Language shaping culture and thought May 2, 2018

Interesting, now I'm thinking out loud: 'He broke the vase' vs 'the vase broke' could also explain why in Romance languages and cultures there is no corresponding term (and concept) for 'accountability' that is simply responsibility. So here is why in Romance languages (I know it is so for Italian) the concept of accountability remains vague, intangible and unspoken of. So citizens of romance languages cultures tend to have societies where the line between right and wrong, crime and punishment r... See more
Interesting, now I'm thinking out loud: 'He broke the vase' vs 'the vase broke' could also explain why in Romance languages and cultures there is no corresponding term (and concept) for 'accountability' that is simply responsibility. So here is why in Romance languages (I know it is so for Italian) the concept of accountability remains vague, intangible and unspoken of. So citizens of romance languages cultures tend to have societies where the line between right and wrong, crime and punishment remains very hazy. ▲ Collapse
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:00
Spanish to English
+ ...
Same in Spanish May 3, 2018

It's a great way to avoid responsibility without actually stooping to outright lying. We can also do the same in English, for example "it got lost" -> "I/we lost it" ...
 
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei  Identity Verified
Ghana
Local time: 13:00
Japanese to English
Sapir-Whorf? May 3, 2018

I thought the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis of linguistic relativity was long since discredited.

Geoff Williams
 

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