Further Analysis of Language

Language is an incredibly important tool to pass on knowledge and to communicate thought. We gather a very large amount of knowledge through language. For example, to acquire knowledge we read information online, research findings of others, look through textbooks, or simply listen to others (like your teachers, for example). We use language to represent ideas, to make sense of the world, and to talk about what is "out there".

Nevertheless, the language you speak is closely connected to your world experience. If you speak several languages, you may notice that some languages have words that don't exist in others. This may be because some ideas are more important in some cultures than others. Perhaps your environment and your way of life require a certain type of language and certain expressions. Anthropologist Wade Davis, for example, suggests that the Barasana people tend not to distinguish blue from green because, to them, blue and green together form the colour of "the canopy of the heavens"; an idea closely linked to their world experience. However, it is also worth considering how the actual language you speak may shape your experience of the world (and in its turn, the way in which you gather knowledge). For example, through your study of a second language at IBDP, you might have noticed that some languages have gender, whilst others do not. You may also have noticed that some languages force you to think carefully about which word to choose to address someone else (eg the French vous versus tu). If a language forces you to think about this kind of stuff, does that mean its speakers will "know" (the world) differently? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky claims that the latter is partly the case. She shows in her TED talk and in her article 'Lost in Translation' that Russian people tend to distinguish the shades of blue better because they have an extra word for light blue. In addition, psychologist Elizabeth Loftus claims that our memory of sense perception is also affected by language. In short, the connection between language and cognition seems to be more profound than what was suggested until fairly recently, and the language you speak may shape your cognition.

Although the language you speak will not necessarily determine what you can think, it is obvious that language and thought are interconnected. You can probably think of several examples from your own life where people have tried to manipulate your thoughts through language. ​This is especially the case when people use emotive and persuasive language. In this respect, language can lead to power. You can use language to shape other people's thoughts and to maintain certain relationships of authority, The connection between knowledge, language and power can be explored further within TOK classes.

Language and Meaning: https://youtu.be/zmwgmt7wcv8

This lesson focuses on languages in translation. It emphasises how speakers of different languages "know differently" when speaking (and thinking) in their language. This lesson offers a good opportunity to explore how TOK manifests itself in the real world.

Bilingual students, as well as group 2 learners, are often able to draw from their own experiences. Research in the field of cognitive science may further support knowledge claims in this area. In addition, the study of novels in translation (language A) can be discussed within this context.

Lost in Translation https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVAm7XpZFqJ9M4Bbx8fWfcDj_-UjT4xY/view?usp=sharing

Lost in Translation: Questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ea1mLQ0WmT8BRpNlndHZqiv7fKYrCuSD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102303112386118913028&rtpof=true&sd=true