89 | Lera Boroditsky on Language, Thought, Space, and Time
Mar 23, 2020
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Lera Boroditsky, an associate professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego, dives deep into how language influences thought, especially regarding time and space. She discusses how different cultures conceptualize time, revealing fascinating insights about our subconscious biases. Language can shape memory and perception, influencing our understanding of events. Lera also highlights the cognitive benefits of lifelong language learning and how cultural contexts alter our brain's frameworks, emphasizing the creativity unlocked through new linguistic experiences.
Language influences how we perceive time and space.
Cultural diversity impacts temporal concepts and language.
Learning new languages is beneficial at any age.
Languages shape cognition and influence reality perception.
Deep dives
Language and Thought Interplay
The podcast explores the influence of language on how we think, highlighting that our thoughts are interconnected with the language systems we use. It discusses the idea that language impacts our cognitive processes, suggesting that the ways in which we express ideas can shape our thinking patterns. For example, the concept of linguistic relativity is examined, with references to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and the influence of language on our mental representations.
Spatial Metaphors in Language
The episode delves into how spatial metaphors are intertwined with time language, illustrating that different cultures perceive time spatially based on their language structures. For instance, it mentions how the direction in which people face or the spatial relationships in their environment can influence how they conceptualize time. Specific examples like the different interpretations of moving a meeting 'forward' in time are used to demonstrate the varying perspectives on temporal language.
Cultural Variations in Temporal Concepts
Cultural diversity in temporal concepts is highlighted through examples like Balinese calendars and the Balinese time system, showcasing how Balinese culture incorporates multiple cycles and rhythms in their calendars. The episode explores how cultural practices and linguistic frameworks can shape individuals' understanding of time, leading to intricate temporal structures that diverge from conventional linear perceptions of time.
Cognition and Cultural Influence
The podcast discusses how cognitive processes are influenced by cultural practices and language nuances, emphasizing the importance of cultural diversity in shaping human cognition. It delves into how cultural norms, linguistic structures, and societal customs can impact individuals' mental frameworks regarding time and space. By examining examples from various cultures, the episode underscores the intricate relationship between language, culture, and cognition in shaping our perceptions of time and reality.
Language Learning and Age
Learning languages is easier at a young age than when older, although some use age as an excuse not to learn new languages. The pursuit of perfection in language proficiency may not be necessary for practical communication and enjoyment. Learning new languages offers a fun and useful experience, even if fluency isn't native-like.
Creativity and Learning
The perception of creativity diminishing with age may not be accurate. Children's creativity may stem from the need to learn and become experts in different fields, while adults tend to stick to what they already know. Recognizing personal habits and patterns can lead to consciously expanding knowledge through new experiences, such as traveling.
Language Influence on Perception
Languages shape how individuals perceive and classify the world around them, influencing cognitive processes and subtle distinctions. The example of blues in Russian and English showcases how language distinctions can alter perception and cognitive efficiency. The debate around language's role in shaping reality versus reflecting it remains a complex topic in linguistics and cognitive science.
What direction does time point in? None, really, although some people might subconsciously put the past on the left and the future on the right, or the past behind themselves and the future in front, or many other possible orientations. What feels natural to you depends in large degree on the native language you speak, and how it talks about time. This is a clue to a more general phenomenon, how language shapes the way we think. Lera Boroditsky is one of the world’s experts on this phenomenon. She uses how different languages construe time and space (as well as other things) to help tease out the way our brains make sense of the world.
Lera Boroditsky received her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Stanford University. She is currently associate professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego. She serves as Editor in Chief of the journal Frontiers in Cultural Psychology. She has been named one of 25 Visionaries changing the world by the Utne Reader, and is also a Searle Scholar, a McDonnell scholar, recipient of an NSF Career award, and an APA Distinguished Scientist lecturer.
