Way of knowing: Language
On last week's ToK classes we were discussing ways of knowing. What interested me the most was language. Language is a way of passing on information, knowledge but also our thought and beliefs to other people. We can ''implant'' our thought into somebody's mind.
(as Mark Pagel said in this TED Talk:
Language in terms of acquiring knowledge is powerful. Without it we wouldn't be able to learn as quickly as we do it now. School, universities but also other people use language as a main tool to teach others. However, this powerful tool not only can help us acquire knowledge so can the language influence our lives? Because we are constantly surround with words and various language structures, people often use them to influence others. To by using emotional language create an image in somebody's mind that will help convince this person that something is either right or wrong. We often see it in political, religious and controversial speeches.
So if others by using thoughtful and emotional language can influence others, then can the words we hear, the language we use shapes the way we think, maybe, the way we perceive the world?
This video perfectly explains that in different languages there are various of word to express things that in other languages is simply not possible. There is also an example in this video but also in this really interesting article > Does the language shape what we think? < of small Amazonian community and its language which lacks the words of numbers. This example bring a question: Can language limit our knowledge? Because in this Amazonian community case they do not have words to express exact numbers they are unable to develop and acquire or discover mathematics which all about numbers. Without maths it is impossible to posses, for example, knowledge of constructing solid buildings. We may think that these people will never be able to do these things, and we may also believe that their knowledge is limited. But how can we measure knowledge? We just compare their knowledge to our's, but maybe our knowledge may seem limited to other civilizations?
I will see you next week,
Alicja.
(as Mark Pagel said in this TED Talk:
Language in terms of acquiring knowledge is powerful. Without it we wouldn't be able to learn as quickly as we do it now. School, universities but also other people use language as a main tool to teach others. However, this powerful tool not only can help us acquire knowledge so can the language influence our lives? Because we are constantly surround with words and various language structures, people often use them to influence others. To by using emotional language create an image in somebody's mind that will help convince this person that something is either right or wrong. We often see it in political, religious and controversial speeches.
So if others by using thoughtful and emotional language can influence others, then can the words we hear, the language we use shapes the way we think, maybe, the way we perceive the world?
This video perfectly explains that in different languages there are various of word to express things that in other languages is simply not possible. There is also an example in this video but also in this really interesting article > Does the language shape what we think? < of small Amazonian community and its language which lacks the words of numbers. This example bring a question: Can language limit our knowledge? Because in this Amazonian community case they do not have words to express exact numbers they are unable to develop and acquire or discover mathematics which all about numbers. Without maths it is impossible to posses, for example, knowledge of constructing solid buildings. We may think that these people will never be able to do these things, and we may also believe that their knowledge is limited. But how can we measure knowledge? We just compare their knowledge to our's, but maybe our knowledge may seem limited to other civilizations?
I will see you next week,
Alicja.
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