Aarya Patil Week 10: The Power of Linguistic Determinism


I recently came across an intriguing finding while studying for my AP Psych test that got me thinking about how language truly shapes our lives. The Whorf hypothesis, also known as linguistic determinism, refers to the proposal that the “particular language one speaks influences the way one thinks about reality.” Whorf’s theory discusses how language shapes perceptions, influences our daily choices, and also structures the concepts that we unconsciously think about. What I found most interesting was that our native languages might showcase our pre-existing thoughts and alter our cognitive outlook. This raises the question: how does linguistic determinism interconnect with bilingual people? 

Growing up in a bilingual household, I immediately became aware of the back-and-forth connection between language and thought. One clear memory that stands out: as my family gathered for an event, I noticed that smiles and laughter were followed by the intricacies of my native language. Observing the conversations and the pure joy on my family member’s faces, I realized that certain emotions are only visible when speaking in our language. The language wasn't just a means of communication; it became the channel through which familial bonds were strengthened. I considered whether the differences in my emotional experiences across languages were a manifestation of linguistic determinism. 


Furthermore, it is found that “in some languages, there are many different words for love. However, in English, we use the word love for all types of love.” The linguistic aspect is a fascinating one, with an interwoven pattern of expressions. While English provides one large group for the word “love”, other languages flaunt a large array of words, each and every one creating specific distinctions within the overarching umbrella of affection. For example, 

Spanish has the following terms to express the word love. 

  • Amor: General term for love.

  • Enamoramiento: Falling in love.

  • Cariño: Affection or fondness.

  • Amistad: Friendship.


In cultures where love is categorized into several different expressions, the diversity of emotions and relationships is closely associated. This urges the question, does the multiplicity of words for love in certain languages contribute to a more modulated comprehension of the intricacies within human connections? On the other hand, does the English language's singular use of "love" reflect an approach that simplifies the complexity of human emotions? 


Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Language and Thinking | Introduction to Psychology

Comments

  1. Rashmi NavalpakkamFebruary 6, 2024 at 6:05 PM

    Hi Aarya,
    I found your blog really interesting because recently a few weeks ago, I had read about a similar theory known as linguistic relativity. Linguistic relativity, much like linguistic determinism, hypothesizes that the particular language we speak - from the grammatical structure of our language to the specific vocabulary words - influences how we view the world. As I was reading your blog, I couldn’t agree more with you on the fact that our native languages definitely affect our cognitive outlook and perception of the world. Much like you, I also grew up in a bilingual household and I can definitely relate to “the back-and-forth connection between language and thought.” I was also intrigued by the unique approach you took on this topic. As I learned about linguistic determinism and connected it to being bilingual, I explored the diverse perceptions of the world when I spoke English versus my native language. However, reading your blog opened my perspective to how speaking different languages not only affects our perception of the world but also of emotions. I also love how you provided a specific example of the different words for “love” in Spanish “contribute to a more modulated comprehension of the intricacies within human connections.” Your analysis on linguistic relativity was very enlightening to read and I will certainly think about whether the multiplicity of different words that mean the same thing add to our comprehension of human connections or if it’s better to just keep it simple and use one word, like the English language usually does.

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  2. Andrelina HsuFebruary 7, 2024 at 9:35 AM

    Hey Aarya! I feel like a lot can be said about the differences in terms of the depth of languages—specifically in others compared to English. In the same sense as you, I grew up speaking two languages as well, and my memory regarding either language differs from the other. Specifically, one of my parents being fluent in English and the other being not has led to me becoming a human translator, as I would constantly find myself in the situation of having to find the words to express my thoughts in both languages in order to communicate with both of my parents. In doing so, I’ve also noticed a large variance in expression between Mandarin and English. When I was younger, I was always reluctant and against learning Chinese because it was just too complicated, especially compared to English. There were so many characters, so many meanings, and so many pronunciations that I found it increasingly unfair that all I had to do in English was memorize 26 letters and a few grammar rules to be deemed proficient, whereas in Chinese, there are well over 50,000 characters, making it nearly impossible to memorize them all (at least for me). I remember that feeling of frustration I’d feel when I would see a piece of text in Mandarin in middle school and not be able to literally read, pronounce, or understand it—since I’ve never used that character in my life before. When I came across an unknown word in English, I was, at the very least, able to pronounce it and be able to look it up, knowing its spelling. That was not something I could do with unknown Chinese words, since I couldn’t even read them. However, I’ve grown to realize and accept things for the way they are, because the way that languages are closely intertwined and structured to reflect the cultures from which they come is such a special idea. Rather than fixating on why English and other languages are so different from one another, I feel like it is important for us to appreciate being able to live with such a variety of languages as it opens whole worlds of opportunities.

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