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#142 – John McWhorter on key lessons from linguistics, the virtue of creoles, and language extinction

80,000 Hours Podcast

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Language and Worldview: A Critical Examination

This chapter critically examines the belief that language shapes our perception of reality, challenging the validity of the linguistic relativity hypothesis. By exploring historical and contemporary examples, the discussion highlights how cognitive patterns can be influenced by language structures and cultural contexts. The presentation ultimately argues that environmental factors and experience may play a more significant role in shaping thought than language alone.

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