| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Poll: Do you believe we think differently in different languages? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you believe we think differently in different languages?".
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In academic linguistics, this is known as Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. My personal observations from living in 6 countries are fully in its favour.
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A very interesting programme on BBC Ideas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XINQvKbqzq0 ) says we do, but personally after having lived 30 years in the francophone part of Belgium, I do think very often in French, but I don’t feel that my thoughts are influenced by my thinking language. Anyway, my mother used to say that when I spoke in French with her, I sounded softer and more melodic than ... See more A very interesting programme on BBC Ideas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XINQvKbqzq0 ) says we do, but personally after having lived 30 years in the francophone part of Belgium, I do think very often in French, but I don’t feel that my thoughts are influenced by my thinking language. Anyway, my mother used to say that when I spoke in French with her, I sounded softer and more melodic than in Portuguese… ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes, to some extent, I believe that... | Jun 27 |
The way we think can be influenced by the language we use, a concept known as linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Different languages can shape our perception of the world and the way we categorize and process information. For example, some languages have specific words for concepts that don't exist in others, which can affect how speakers of those languages think about those concepts. However, the extent of this influence can vary and is a topic of ongoing research and debate i... See more The way we think can be influenced by the language we use, a concept known as linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Different languages can shape our perception of the world and the way we categorize and process information. For example, some languages have specific words for concepts that don't exist in others, which can affect how speakers of those languages think about those concepts. However, the extent of this influence can vary and is a topic of ongoing research and debate in linguistics and cognitive science. ▲ Collapse
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Barbara Carrara 
Italy
Local time: 13:30
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
Thank you for providing ChatGPT's view on the poll topic.
Pity that, language-wise, the English 'translations' on your profile page tell a different story. In fact, the real story.
Staff, if as you say you read the fora, how about BANNING the use of ChatGPT across the platform?
In the meantime, I am in support of reporting ChatGPT users and language abusers, and thank all the forum participants who are already doing that.
[Edited at 202... See more Thank you for providing ChatGPT's view on the poll topic.
Pity that, language-wise, the English 'translations' on your profile page tell a different story. In fact, the real story.
Staff, if as you say you read the fora, how about BANNING the use of ChatGPT across the platform?
In the meantime, I am in support of reporting ChatGPT users and language abusers, and thank all the forum participants who are already doing that.
[Edited at 2024-06-28 09:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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...thinking in my local dialect, the world and its problems are much less complicated, and easy solutions for global problems are quick at hand.
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 13:30
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Being a native speaker of two very different languages, I can say from direct experience that the way you think in them is not the same, but this difference is not of a qualitative nature.
Grammar plays a big part in this - the more complex and differentiated it is, the more complex constructions are possible, which shapes thinking. Are there various genera? Can you easily create compounds/neologisms? This adds to the complexity but also flexibility.
Another big role is played by th... See more Being a native speaker of two very different languages, I can say from direct experience that the way you think in them is not the same, but this difference is not of a qualitative nature.
Grammar plays a big part in this - the more complex and differentiated it is, the more complex constructions are possible, which shapes thinking. Are there various genera? Can you easily create compounds/neologisms? This adds to the complexity but also flexibility.
Another big role is played by the linguistic habitus and socialisation, which tend to shape also on a deeper, emotional level. ▲ Collapse
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One example: people speaking English, French and - as far as I know - any other Germanic or Romance language, have specific words for the colours blue and green and perceive them as different colours, though the colours are on a spectrum. In Russian, there are separate words for light blue and dark blue, and somewhere on the blue spectrum, Russian speakers perceive these as distinct colours, while we English (Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish ...) speakers see the same thing with our eyes but perc... See more One example: people speaking English, French and - as far as I know - any other Germanic or Romance language, have specific words for the colours blue and green and perceive them as different colours, though the colours are on a spectrum. In Russian, there are separate words for light blue and dark blue, and somewhere on the blue spectrum, Russian speakers perceive these as distinct colours, while we English (Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish ...) speakers see the same thing with our eyes but perceive all different hues as blue. On the other hand, there are also languages where green and blue are combined in one colour word, and the speakers of those languages will not perceive the same difference between green and blue as we do. ▲ Collapse
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Barbara Carrara wrote:
Thank you for providing ChatGPT's view on the poll topic.
Pity that, language-wise, the English 'translations' on your profile page tell a different story. In fact, the real story.
Staff, if as you say you read the fora, how about BANNING the use of ChatGPT across the platform?
In the meantime, I am in support of reporting ChatGPT users and language abusers, and thank all the forum participants who are already doing that.
Who is this person, and where is that post?
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Not me, anyway. The limitations of my Swedish mean I express myself differently and come across as a slightly different person, with some personality traits coming to the fore and others being suppressed perhaps, but underneath I'm just me. I don't think differently.
I also make a living from using different words to express the same thoughts and ideas...
| | | | Barbara Carrara
Italy
Local time: 13:30
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
| As per title of my post | Jun 28 |
Angie Garbarino wrote:
Who is this person, and where is that post?
CiaU, Angioletta!
Hamdi Saif, who posted 'his' contribution just before I did.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 13:30
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
I would rather say we may *feel* different, but this comes with a different culture too, not just the language. Just like if you move to a different country, you may start feeling differently (at least in some aspects). I also noticed that when I visit friends, some of them appear like a somewhat different person at their home vs. outside world.
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| Interesting question | Jun 28 |
Would you ever think "Oh dear! I've got to do the washing up!" in your first or second language? I wouldn't. I don't use language to think. I don't talk to myself to tell myself that I need to do the washing up - I just think it, in pictures maybe, but not in words.
If I think of something I'm going to say, I'll think it in the language I'm going to say it in. Similarly, if I dream that I'm talking or if I'm thinking about something someone said, then it'll be either in English or ... See more Would you ever think "Oh dear! I've got to do the washing up!" in your first or second language? I wouldn't. I don't use language to think. I don't talk to myself to tell myself that I need to do the washing up - I just think it, in pictures maybe, but not in words.
If I think of something I'm going to say, I'll think it in the language I'm going to say it in. Similarly, if I dream that I'm talking or if I'm thinking about something someone said, then it'll be either in English or in Italian, or whatever. Again, it depends who I'm talking to or who's doing the talking.
Still, I mentally count both in English and in pictures (numbers) and if I'm thinking of something I'm going to say, the message will change slightly between English and Italian. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 13:30
French to English
My parents always thought my partner and I were arguing when we spoke in French, whereas in fact we were simply speaking in a livelier fashion. Apparently I use my hands a lot more when speaking in French.
I'm not sure that I think differently. Although there are definitely thoughts that I have in English then struggle to express in French because they are topics that the French are not (yet) concerned about.
I'm pretty sure my core beliefs are the same, they are ju... See more My parents always thought my partner and I were arguing when we spoke in French, whereas in fact we were simply speaking in a livelier fashion. Apparently I use my hands a lot more when speaking in French.
I'm not sure that I think differently. Although there are definitely thoughts that I have in English then struggle to express in French because they are topics that the French are not (yet) concerned about.
I'm pretty sure my core beliefs are the same, they are just expressed slightly differently.
I feel that I am more pithy in English, then again, a French boss once commented that when I spoke he had to listen carefully because every word was important. Like I was a woman of few words, but important words. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 13:30
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
Barbara Carrara wrote:
Staff, if as you say you read the fora, how about BANNING the use of ChatGPT across the platform?
That would be a bit radical, I believe. I would never use ChatGPT like this because it would present a false image of who I am and I don't want that. But at the same time I can't think of a good reason to forbid people to use it. It's their choice.
Apart from that it would also be difficult for Proz to draw the line where personal knowledge ends and ChatGPT begins.
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