Rashmi Navalpakkam, Week 9 - Language and the Power of Perception

      

        Recently, while reading an article that demonstrates the power of words to shape our perception of reality, I came across the intriguing concept of linguistic relativity. Linguistic relativity 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. The biggest question such a hypothesis has prompted is how language has the power to influence thought. 

        For the longest time, many researchers believed that cognition or perception was not influenced by language at all; it was simply influenced by what we sensed. The language in which things were being expressed was not even in the picture. I believed in this - how would different languages affect our perception of reality when each language could be translated into another to mean the same thing?

        However, after learning about this new interesting theory, I began to question whether language plays a role in cognition. The idea of linguistic relativity practically contradicts the previous theory that cognition is not affected by language since it shows how language has the power to interact with cognition in a cyclic relationship. 

        The idea of linguistic relativity also means that bilingual people may perceive the world in many different ways. As someone who's bilingual - fluent in both English and Tamil - I’ve found that I see the world differently when I speak different languages. My perception of reality when speaking Tamil is different from when I speak English since I use Tamil mostly when referring to relatives and family respectfully, while I use English much more casually with peers and general people. This change in surroundings and the manner of speaking when I speak different languages may also contribute to why my perception changes as I switch languages. 

        Learning about linguistic relativity has allowed me to see the magnitude of power languages have that they can affect cognition and perception of reality. Seeing how it affected my life made this hypothesis even more intriguing and powerful, and I look forward to seeing how it will develop in the future. 


Comments

  1. Ayush ChaurasiaJanuary 20, 2024 at 9:58 PM

    Hi Rashmi! I enjoyed reading this blog post because I found the topic to be interesting. Your exploration of how linguistic relativity affects bilingual people stood out to me because of how I was able to see examples of that phenomenon in my own life—for example, I associate Hindi with a focus on addressing my family members (similarly to your experiences with Tamil and your own family), while I use English to interact with anyone beyond my family. As you said, language is powerful in its ability to affect a person’s perception of reality, and you attributed part of that power to the differences in setting and mannerisms when you are exposed to different languages; however, I believe that the way you are taught a particular language also has an impact on how you use it to perceive the world. An example of this is French, which I only learned at school—whenever I hear French, I envision the action of the sentences happening in an old French television show that my teacher used to make the class watch. Overall, the captivating writing style of this blog enhanced its already interesting topic, and I look forward to examining my life for more examples of linguistic relativity.

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  2. Andrelina HsuJanuary 21, 2024 at 11:24 PM

    Hey Rashmi! Your explanation of how language shapes our perspectives on aspects of our lives got me thinking back on how my own experiences growing up speaking both Mandarin and English and learning Spanish have impacted my ideals and morals. I wholeheartedly agree with what you said, and I’m sure this is the same for many of us, but the separate environments in which we speak different languages definitely change our perceptions of the world. To me, being bilingual feels like switching between two pairs of glasses, with each language being a different lens. Changing from one language to another shows me a different side of the world. It's interesting to think about how a simple switch in how we speak can bring a whole new vibe and outlook to a situation, almost exactly like looking at the same picture but through a completely different filter. I feel like this is an important topic that is often overlooked; it’s crazy in the best way possible to realize the immense power that words hold to influence how we understand our emotions, think about ideas, and connect with people. Language, in my view, is more than just a means of communication; it's a literal key that unlocks entire worlds of possibility by connecting speakers with one another. It’s such an amazing tool that truly builds bridges between nations, and without it, who knows what life-changing ideas people are missing out on learning and experiencing? Your reflection has definitely heightened my everyday awareness of the impact of language and inspired me to pay closer attention to how words influence my life.

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