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Poll: Do you believe we think differently in different languages?
Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
PERSONAL DEL SITIO
Jun 27

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you believe we think differently in different languages?".

View the poll results »



 
Anton Konashenok
Anton Konashenok  Identity Verified
República Checa
Local time: 08:09
francés al inglés
+ ...
Definitely Jun 27

In academic linguistics, this is known as Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. My personal observations from living in 6 countries are fully in its favour.

Philip Lees
Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
Wolfgang Schoene
Federica Scaccabarozzi
Natasha Cloutier
writeaway
Kay Denney
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:09
Miembro 2007
inglés al portugués
+ ...
N/A Jun 27

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


Angie Garbarino
 
HAMDI SAIF
HAMDI SAIF
Yemén
inglés al árabe
+ ...
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


 
Barbara Carrara
Barbara Carrara  Identity Verified
Italia
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2008
inglés al italiano
+ ...
Hamdi Saif Jun 28

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]
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Alex Lichanow
Thayenga
P.L.F. Persio
Wolfgang Schoene
Christine Andersen
Anton Konashenok
ibz
 
Matthias Brombach
Matthias Brombach  Identity Verified
Alemania
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2007
neerlandés al alemán
+ ...
When I start... Jun 28

...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
Chris Says Bye
 
Zea_Mays
Zea_Mays  Identity Verified
Italia
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2009
inglés al alemán
+ ...
Yes Jun 28

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.
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Wolfgang Schoene
Liena Vijupe
Carmen Valentin-Rodriguez
IrinaN
Elizabeth Joy Pitt de Morales
 
Edith van der Have
Edith van der Have
Países Bajos
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2016
inglés al neerlandés
+ ...
Yes Jun 28

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


Carmen Valentin-Rodriguez
Elizabeth Joy Pitt de Morales
 
Angie Garbarino
Angie Garbarino  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2003
francés al italiano
+ ...
??? Jun 28

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?


 
No Jun 28

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...


Lieven Malaise
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Angie Garbarino
 
Barbara Carrara
Barbara Carrara  Identity Verified
Italia
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2008
inglés al italiano
+ ...
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.


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Lingua 5B
Lingua 5B  Identity Verified
Bosnia y Herzegovina
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2009
inglés al croata
+ ...
In some way, yes Jun 28

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.

Aitor Salaberria
Chris Says Bye
Josephine Cassar
 
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.
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Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
Francia
Local time: 08:09
francés al inglés
. Jun 28

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.
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Chris Says Bye
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise
Bélgica
Local time: 08:09
Miembro 2020
francés al neerlandés
+ ...
Radical Jun 28

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.


Chris Says Bye
Angie Garbarino
 
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Poll: Do you believe we think differently in different languages?






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