Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman cover image

Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman

Ep28 "Does your language shape your thinking?"

Oct 2, 2023
Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky explores the influence of language on perception and attention, discussing topics such as color perception, representation of time, black storytelling, cultural orientation awareness, orientation patterns, thinking patterns, grammar's impact on children's thinking, and the relationship between language and our brains.
33:39

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Language influences our perception and understanding of the world, including color perception, spatial orientation, and conceptualization of time.
  • Different languages have distinct ways of categorizing and distinguishing snow, challenging the notion that it is an urban legend that Inuit have multiple words for snow.

Deep dives

The Influence of Language on Thought

The podcast episode explores the question of whether the language we speak modifies the way we think. It discusses the debate surrounding the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which suggests that language determines thought. While the strong version of the hypothesis has been largely dismissed, there is evidence supporting the weaker version, which claims that language influences thought. The episode delves into various examples, such as the impact of language on color perception, spatial orientation, and conceptualization of time. It also highlights experiments where people are taught new ways of talking about time, demonstrating how language can shift cognitive perception. The episode underscores that while language may not fully determine thought, it plays a role in shaping how we perceive and understand the world.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner