Does Language Shape the Way We Think

The language we speak influences many different things. It can impact the way that we think about time, space, and even colors! … People who speak different languages focus on different things, depending on the words or sentence structure available to them. It influences our thought process and our feelings.

How does language influence the way we think?

Languages do not limit our ability to perceive the world or to think about the world, but they focus our perception, attention, and thought on specific aspects of the world. … So, different languages focus the attention of their speakers on different aspects of the environment—either physical or cultural.

Does language shape culture?

All this new research shows us that the languages we speak not only reflect or express our thoughts, but also shape the very thoughts we wish to express. The structures that exist in our languages profoundly shape how we construct reality, and help make us as smart and sophisticated as we are.