Abigaël Alexandre

About me...

Hi everyone,

My name is Abigaël, I am 19 years old and I am currently in my fourth semester as a language student at Dawson College. I have been learning Italian for the past 2 years and will definitly continue to do so after graduating CEGEP. It is easily deductible that languages are a big part of my life. As I learned more and more about this field of study, I narrowed down my interest to mostly linguistics. Indeed, I intend to pursue my studies in psycholinguistics next year.

Other than that, I am very outgoing and curious about my surroundings. I enjoy learning about how the brain works and reacts to external factors and emotions, which is what mainly inspired me for this project. I intend to link brain functionnings with language for my research

Topic Ideas

For this project, I have two solid ideas of what I want to research.

The relationship between language and thoughts. By exploring this topic, I intend to understand how thoughts are formed and what is the processes linked to their verbal or written expression through language. I find this subject extremely fascinating for it asks two main questions: are human able to think without language and does language influences thoughts or is it the opposite? Those will be the leads I follow during my research process. I started to look at some information consering this matter and here is a good first source I found:

Citation: Rescorla, Michael, "The Language of Thought Hypothesis", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Summer 2019 Edition, plato.stanford.edu/entries/language-thought/#ReprTheoThou.

Type of source: Article from an academic journal

Briefly, in this source, the concept of mental representation, which, in other terms, is the way our brains associate a word's meanings with a concept is developped. Indeed, Michael Rescorla explains that this mental representation is triggered by a certain attitude in relation to its concept's reality. According to that, the easiest deduction seems to be that thought processes are an ensemble of mental representation, which would imply that the semantics of the words do interfere with thoughts. This information is worth looking at for it explicitly vulgarizes how thoughts come to be in our brain.

The relationship between language and the expression of emotions. This subject would evaluate how our linguistic knowledge is actually able to express emotions clearly and effectively. This following source allowed me to grasp more the idea.

Citation: Lindquist, Kristen A. et.al. "The role of language in emotion: prediction from psychological construisim." Frontiers in Psychology, University of North Carolina, April, 2015, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00444/full.

Type of source: Online article

In this article, the authors argue that language and emotions have a very intimate reliance on each other. To begin with, the use of language actively influence our emotions and feelings (e.g., connotated words such as compliments or insults). Going a bit in the same direction as the previous source, in order for our brain to understand a concept of knowledge about an emotion, it needs to associated a word to it. This article also presents various evidence found in fairly recent studies in favour of this thesis. This is a great place to start because it broadly discusses the way our own internal personality impact the way we experience and express emotions.

Final Choice

Before going into more depth in my research, I wanted to confirm that I am going to center my project around the second idea mentioned in the previous section. I chose to inform myself and others on the relationship between emotions and languague for various reasons. To begin with, the subjectivity of the matter makes it very interesting to me. Indeed, it brings a level of complexity, variable from one person to another. Lastly, the sources I will look at might discuss the way our thoughts work in relation to language as well. Combining both of my main ideas seemed to be the most interesting option.

Thesis statement and topic sentences

Thesis statement:

The relationship between the concept of each emotions and language is an extremely subjective matter because it is influenced by various factors such as the way our brain makes mental representations of concepts, the language we speak, the culture we are in, our personality, and our gender.

Topic sentences:

I. Our brain associates concrete terminologies to abstract concept to create mental representations of thoughts.

II. Most languages are missing important words to describe certain feelings or concepts.

III. Cultural factors can change our perception of certain terminologies.

IV. Someone’s personality can change the way they interpret emotions.

V. Gender influences the way people encode and decode emotions.

Subjectivity of Language

Citation: Khan, Amina. “What Is Love, Actually? The World's Languages Describe Emotions Very Differently.” Los Angeles Time, 19 Dec. 2019, www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-12-19/emotions-universal-languages-differ.

Type of source: Online article

We might think that words describing emotions are pretty straightforward, but, according to this article, it seems unlikely for two person describing a same emotion words, sadness for example, to have the same definition or the same experience. Although it is an important factor, personnality is not the only thing influencing our emotions. Indeed, culture and language play a considerable role too. In English, general category of emotion words are used most of the time, but in other languages, some specifications are implied in the same term. For instance, in Indo-European languages, the general english concept of anger, is intimatly related to "anxiety," whereas Nakh-Daghestanian languages associate it more with the idea of envy.

To summarize, this article mainly discusses the subjectivity of emotional concepts depending on the language. It also supports each arguments with clear and concrete examples like the one mentioned above, which will help solidify the arguments I intend to make about the language variation in the expression of feelings.

Link image: https://conductal.medium.com/the-future-of-design-emotional-design-798a3f15d698

Creation of new words to describe concepts

Citation: Koenig, John. "Deciphering the Language of Emotion." YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 14 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygbksxK7n4Y.

Type of source: Video (TED Talk)

In this very interesting video, John Koening explains how he always thought certain words to describe specific emotions and concepts were missing in the English language. That is why he created this modern dictionnary called "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows" that has for goal to fill certain voids in our language. He gives the example of the word "sonder," which is the realization that each person we see on the streets or at the grocery store is the main character of their own life and that we will never be a part of it. To briefly summarize, Koening explains the need for new clear terminologies to be able to express certain concepts and emotions in a depth that our current linguistic behaviour does not allow us. This source could be useful to consider since it presents how some words are missing and needed in order to express concept in the daily.

Associations of words to facial expression

Citation: Doyle, Cameron M., and Kristen A. Lindquist. “When a Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures: Language Shapes Perceptual Memory for Emotion.” Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, vol. 147, no. 1, Jan. 2018, pp. 62–73, EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/xge0000361.

Type of source: Article from an academic journal

This source shows three studies proving that, indeed, emotion words have an impact on the way we understand facial expressions related to feelings. To summarize what was explained, terms we learn in our daily life that we subsequently associate to emotional visual concepts (e.g., a smile, a frown, etc.) help us assimilate what the people in front of us are feeling. A bit like most law system, we use cases similar to each other to draw similar conclusion. In that order of ideas, we associate facial expressions to perticular terms that are link to known concepts, to identify the meaning of what we see. This is useful to understand the way our brain links what we know to what we see.

Link image: https://www.verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-facial-expressions-4147228

Communication of emotions in different environments

Citation: Gallois, Cynthia. “The Language and Communication of Emotion: Universal, Interpersonal, or Intergroup?” American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 36, no. 3, 1 Jan. 1993, pp. 309–338, EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ480326&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Type of source: Article from an academic journal

This sources discusses the communication and miscommunication of emotions in cross-gender and cross-cultural environment. It mainly considers three aspects: the emotion's causes, individual levels of social skills, and the cultural norms to encode and decode emotions. It explains in depth the way humans interact with each other and how well they are able to understand each others in emotional context. It also includes the non-verbal aspect of subjective communication. For example, to prove the gender differences in encoding, but especially decoding non-verbal communication, a study showing that women are better to detect and understand another person's feelings than men is mentionned in the article. This source will be useful to explain and comprehend the way subjective communication is perceived in various contexts depending mainly on gender and culture.

Link image: https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/23081/

Are humans emotions' artificial and external?

Citation: Cimatti, Felice. “Out of Body. Language, Emotions and Art in Vygotsky’s ‘Notebooks.’” Rivista Internazionale Di Filosofia e Psicologia, vol. 11, no. 3, Dec. 2020, pp. 264–282, EBSCOhost, doi:10.4453/rifp.2020.0019.

Type of source: Article from an academic journal

In this reading, Felice Cimatti discussed the possibility of emotions being artificially created by the socio-linguistic aspects of the world we live in. To briefly summarize, it is argued that human emotions are not an internal process of feelings but rather an external experience only created and caused by the apparition of language and organized society. This would also explain why animal do not 'feel' thing, because they do not have an complex enough method of communication and social organization for emotions to be encoded, decoded, and even felt and understood in the first place. This source could be useful in my project because it brings up a completly new idea of how emotions come to be. It could be a great way to introduce my other main arguments.

Link image: https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2019/10/07/ep227-1-social-construction/

Emotion and feeling cycle in the brain

Citation: Schnelle, Helmut. Language in the Brain. Cambridge University Press, 2010. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=317621&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Type of source: ebook

This ebook puts together a multitude of information on neuroscience, psychology, and linguistics. It discusses, from a bio-linguistical point of view, the various functions our brain have (i.g. perception, action, feeling, and thoughts). The author states that our brain makes meaningful mental representations for everything and that, when we speak and understand properly a language, it becomes an uncounscious process.

The most useful part for my research explains the emtional function of our brain. As mentionned before, to recognize an object from the external world, we make a mental representation and associates a known meaning to it. Well, almost exactly the same process happens for feelings. Indeed, a feeling is simply an internal object with a meaning. In other words, it is an internal construction of our brain. There is no actual visual representation for it, but it exists because our brain makes it.

Link image: https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/mental_representation

A New View of Language, Emotions and the Brain

Citation: Shanahan, Daniel. "A New View of Language, Emotions and the Brain." Integrative Psychological and Behavioural Science, vol. 14, no. 1, March 2008, pp. 6-19, Academic Search Complete, doi: 10.1007/s12124-008-9052-0 .

Type of source: Article from an academic journal

This source introduces the ideas and research of linguists, focusing mainly on post Second World War linguistics. It also describes the relation between language and symbols and their link with emotions and objectivity, as well as various other explanations. Although this information might come in handy, the most useful apsects of this paper for my research discusses how emotions come to be meaningful. Briefly, feelings appear when our body reacts to an external factor, to which it can choose to avoid or approach the stimuli, also known as "stop" and "go" reactions.

On another note, it also explains the biological process happening as we experience feelings in emotions. For the most part, the limbic system (the cerebrum, the thalamus, the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the hippocampus) as well as the amygdala are responsable.

Link image: https://camillesprimaryideas.com/2016/09/road-trip-review-word-city.html

The Limbic System

Citation: Queensland Brain Institute, "The Limbic System." University of Queensland, https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/limbic-system.

Type of source: Website

This source briefly and clearly describes the roles of the main structure of our limbic system: the hypotalamus and the amygdala.

The hypothalamus is basically our storage unit for memories and sensory associations.

The amygdala is in charge of emotional response (e.g. fear, pleasure, satisfaction, etc.).

This information is extremely useful to understand the biological aspect of emotions. It also helps with terminologies.

Link image: https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/limbic-system

Reflection on what I have learn so far

What have you learned so far from the reading/research that you have done?

I focused my reasearch on the relationship between the concept of emotions and language as an extremely subjective matter and the variations created by not only the person concerned, but the culture, the gender, and the past experiences as well. Indeed, taking culture for example, different parts of the world encode and decode emotions differently, which might cause interferences.

I have also come to realise that not every language offers precise terminologies to define and express feelings through verbal or written interactions. In fact, most languages present important lack of emotional words.

Some readings, on the other hand, presented a more technical view on the relationship between language and emotions. Effectively, the limbic system, which plays a big role in the reception and transmission of emotions came up quite a few times in my research. So did the concept of mental representations, which represent the way our brain come to understand concept of the external word and associate them to meaningful defintions.

How far have you come with your work?

I am missing maybe one or two sources, but I, now more than ever, have a clear sense of where my paper is going. I definetly learned a lot and found various very interesting and useful sources, which means that my research and understanding of it all is getting pretty solid. I am confident for the next step.

Does it meet the requirements that are described in the course outline?

Now that I added a few sources to my blog, I consider my project update in regards to what is presented in the course outline. The majority of my sources are articles from academic journals and all of my entries present thoughtful and insightful reflections on the readings.

My blog lacked personnality, but in the pas week, I decided to add images that related to the what the source was discussing. While also adding colour and beauty to my page, it provides almost an overview of what the enty is going to mention.

Have you consistently added new material and improved your blog?

In the beginning, I was quite consistent. I made sure to post one sources each week and be prepared for the next. In the last two or three weeks, I have been neglecting it a bit with the midterms, but I am now up-to-date and will make sure to continue in that direction.

Emotive Language

Citation: "Miss Barry's Emotive Language." YouTube, uploaded by Grammar with Humour, 29 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usd-vBEp5Uo.

Type of source: YouTube video

This short video explains and shows with concrete examples what is emotive language. It explicitly demonstrates the choice of words can be biased and portray the actual contant of a sentence in a bad light. The terminology has an important impact on the way we understand what we are told.

This will be understand to explain in a simple manner that word choice do have a big impact on the way we encode and decode messages, whether oral or written.

Emotions in Western cultures VS in Eastern cultures

Citation: Lim, Nangyeon. “Cultural Differences in Emotion: Differences in Emotional Arousal Level between the East and the West.” Integrative Medicine Research, vol. 5, no. 2, 2016, pp. 105–109., doi:10.1016/j.imr.2016.03.004.

Type of source: article from an academic journal

The information useful to my project in this article is divided in three parts. It will mainly help define the cultural factors influencing language and emotions.

First, there is the definitions of the respective philosophy behind the East (i.e., collectivism) and the West (i.e., individualism).

Second, there is the two level of emotional arousal: high and low. The higher level incudes fear, excitement, etc. The lower level features boredom, satisfaction, etc.

Third, it associates the level of emotional arousal to specific cultures. In that logic, the West, seeking leadership, tends to value high level, whereas the East, looking for conformity, prefers low level of emotional arousal.

Link image: https://mountainrunner.us/2008/01/differences_between_eastern_an/

Works Cited

Cimatti, Felice. “Out of Body. Language, Emotions and Art in Vygotsky’s ‘Notebooks.’” Rivista Internazionale Di Filosofia e Psicologia, vol. 11, no. 3, Dec. 2020, pp. 264–282, EBSCOhost, doi:10.4453/rifp.2020.0019.

Doyle, Cameron M., and Kristen A. Lindquist. “When a Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures: Language Shapes Perceptual Memory for Emotion.” Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, vol. 147, no. 1, Jan. 2018, pp. 62–73, EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/xge0000361.

Gallois, Cynthia. “The Language and Communication of Emotion: Universal, Interpersonal, or Intergroup?” American

Behavioral Scientist, vol. 36, no. 3, 1 Jan. 1993, pp. 309–338, EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ480326&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Khan, Amina. “What Is Love, Actually? The World's Languages Describe Emotions Very Differently.” Los Angeles Time, 19 Dec. 2019, www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-12-19/emotions-universal-languages-differ.

Koenig, John. "Deciphering the Language of Emotion." YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 14 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygbksxK7n4Y.

Lim, Nangyeon. “Cultural Differences in Emotion: Differences in Emotional Arousal Level between the East and the West.” Integrative Medicine Research, vol. 5, no. 2, 2016, pp. 105–109., doi:10.1016/j.imr.2016.03.004.

Lindquist, Kristen A. et.al. "The role of language in emotion: prediction from psychological construisim." Frontiers in Psychology, University of North Carolina, April, 2015, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00444/full.

"Miss Barry's Emotive Language." YouTube, uploaded by Grammar with Humour, 29 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usd-vBEp5Uo.

Queensland Brain Institute, "The Limbic System." University of Queensland, https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain- anatomy/limbic-system.

Rescorla, Michael, "The Language of Thought Hypothesis", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Summer 2019 Edition, plato.stanford.edu/entries/language-thought/#ReprTheoThou.

Shanahan, Daniel. "A New View of Language, Emotions and the Brain." Integrative Psychological and Behavioural Science, vol. 14, no. 1, March 2008, pp. 6-19, Academic Search Complete, doi: 10.1007/s12124-008-9052-0 .

Schnelle, Helmut. Language in the Brain. Cambridge University Press, 2010. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=317621&site=eds-live&scope=site

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