Like I mentioned in my last post, I want to write a little on the possible effects that using multiple languages could have from a cultural aspect. I had been researching a bit about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis with my friend, and I felt that the theory could explain such effects.
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is a theory that states that language structure influences the speakers’ perspectives and thoughts. Based on this hypothesis, people who use the same language think in similar ways. Thus, people with the same cultural backgrounds have similar worldviews, and the language they speak could either shape or reflect the culture in return. For example, if a certain language has past, present, and future tenses, a speaker of that language would be more familiar with tracking time than a speaker of a language that didn’t have such tenses. The culture that uses that language could also have characteristics that connect with it. Another example is where a certain language uses absolute terms of cardinal directions to describe space instead of words like ‘front’ or ‘behind’. The users of this language would be more aware of such directions when perceiving their surroundings than speakers of languages like English.
I believe this hypothesis can also suggest that by learning and using multiple languages fluently, we can expand our perspectives. By using a new language, we would not only be able to take a sneak peek at the culture of that language, but also be able to train our brains in new, unfamiliar fields required to use it. So, alongside neurological developments promoting mental flexibility, the cultural and structural characteristics of languages themselves could also help create a more adaptive brain. One way or another, it seems plausible that language can indeed give us insight on different perspectives and thoughts, and it can be seen how important languages can be.
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