TED Talks Daily How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky
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Sep 3, 2021 Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky explores the fascinating ways language shapes our thoughts. She discusses how various languages influence perceptions of time and color, illustrated by an Aboriginal community that navigates using cardinal directions. Boroditsky highlights the richness of linguistic diversity, revealing that each of the 7,000 languages offers a unique cognitive perspective. Her insights showcase how language impacts our memory, spatial awareness, and emotional expressions, leading to a deeper understanding of human cognition.
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Cardinal Directions
- The Kuuk Thaayorre, an aboriginal community in Australia, don't use egocentric directions like "left" or "right".
- Instead, they use cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) for everything, resulting in impressive spatial orientation.
Enhanced Spatial Orientation
- Constant awareness of cardinal directions enhances spatial orientation more than previously thought.
- This challenges the notion of humans having inherent limitations in spatial awareness compared to other species.
Time and Landscape
- The Kuuk Thaayorre organize time from east to west, aligning it with the landscape rather than their bodies.
- Their time perception shifts depending on their facing direction, reflecting the language's influence on temporal cognition.