language

Although we may not know it language causes us to see the world in a different perspective. For others it may be hard to grasp this concept, mostly for those who speak one language, however personally I can see these different perspectives because I am learning Spanish and fluently speak English and Vietnamese. I agree that language shapes how we think. Different languages allow you to focus of different aspects of the world altering your mindset. Along with the actual language itself, culture can play a major role in the way we think as well; however it can also be argued that our perspectives are only different to a degree. The following paragraphs will show examples of how each aspect of language can to an extent shape the way we think.
Firstly, gender in language is impactful to different speakers and is proven to affect your perspective of the world. English achieves gender neutrality. What does this mean? By studying Spanish I have learned that Spanish and other languages such as German have integrated gender in their everyday language, for instance in English I could say, “I studied with my friend,” but the gender of my friend would not be indirectly or directly implied unless it was asked for. On the other hand in Spanish I am obliged by the structure of its language and grammar to either say, “Estudie con mi amigo,” or “Estudie con mi amiga.” The gender in Spanish is not an unknown or ambiguous matter. It is hard to avoid giving away gender when using words like friend, therefore Spanish speakers are forced to identify genders habitually. In addition to people objects can be masculine “el problema” (the problem) or feminine “La manzana” (the apple). This results in viewing certain objects in a different personified view....

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...xperience that other languages may not require their speakers to think about, “And since such habits of speech are cultivated from the earliest age, it is only natural that they can settle into habits of mind that go beyond language itself, affecting your experiences, perceptions, associations, feelings, memories and orientation in the world” (Deutscher). The cultural aspect of language is also essential in the differences in thought as presented through idiom, expressions, and body language. Sometimes it may cause misinterpretations, but the importance of cultural difference in language can be seen if we all spoke a universal language. However the world would have no diversity in thought. In other words different languages may change our perceptions of the world, but that does not meant that we cannot understand different concepts it just changes the way we think.