linguistics

Does Your Native Language Influence Your Thought?

Culturally, people across the world see things differently, and this is certainly expected. In America, for example, when someone sneezes, you say something akin to “Bless you;” in Germany, it’s “Gesundheit.” In China, however, the sneezing act is culturally ignored. Different foods disgust different people for different reasons, and deep roots in religion give rise to many notions of how the world should work.

With all the diversity, it’s inevitable that we all think differently. Some argue, though, that your native language impacts your world view. Let’s explore a few ways this may be true, and you can decide for yourself!