Languages have the power to shape us and the world around us to the greatest extent, as languages are what are unique to us as a species. Our ability to communicate using simple words to convey complex ideas, is one facet that makes humans so special. However, how languages are utilized by humans, carve out their perception of themselves as well as the entire world, as a whole. People that have been brought up in different cultures, in different parts of the world, have a different perception of the world in comparison to people that have been brought up in a separate part of the world, which follows a separate culture. Cultures apply importance to ideals that differ from each of its own, which may differ the way one thinks of that ideal. However, some people around the world believe that because they think of a word with more importance, they can execute it better than those who don’t think of it with as great of an importance, such as the ‘respect for elders,’ in chinese and in english. There are also some who believe that it is possible to think the same exact thing in different languages, thus create a unilateral perception of the world. Wholestically, language connects us all as humans, however it also makes us unique, as culture can separate and/or bring us together as a species. 

Languages shape ourselves and the world around us to an extent that people living in a variety of cultures may differ in thinking. Every culture has it’s own way of thinking and its own language, and cultures may be similar to each other but they all differ in some way, and that is what makes the world such a unique place. If we all came from the same culture, we would have a monotonous language as well as way of thinking. The separation of cultures, showcases the diversity the world has to offer, as well the variety of languages available whilst explaining it. In theory, language can determine the way we think in a particular culture, as well. If a person grows up in an environment that puts great value on coconuts, for example people living in the Solomon Islands, their language will have more words to emphasize the importance of that object. However, in areas such as the United States, where coconuts aren’t of as much importance, there will be less words to describe it, and such there is. There is only one word in the USA that describes coconuts, whereas in the Solomon Islands, there are 9 words to describe their importance. Thus, In areas where objects are of a higher commodity or value, those objects contain more linguistic approaches in terms of explaining it, however those objects in a completely different part of the world or culture may only have one word, due to the fact that they aren’t as important in that particular area. As a multi-lingual american-indian, it is easier for me to think of different objects in hindi than it is in english, even though my first language is English. An example of this is the common indian dish known as, “roti” which translates to english as ‘flat bread.’ However, flatbread in english is a completely different dish from “roti.” In a video explaining the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, the speaker talks about how the differing of the names of paint cans, affected the color of white she picked, as she decided that she liked some names, whilst she didn’t prefer others. Thus the language portrayed around us, shapes the way we think of various aspects of daily life as well as complex thoughts. Adding to this opinion Floyd states, “Language influences the way that members of culture see the world.” The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is broken down into two principles, the first being Linguistic determinism, which means that language determines the way we think. For example, in english there is a definite past, present, and future, however in languages such as chinese, there is no future tense, it is considered a futureless language. Thus the theory states, that because they lack a characteristic that english possesses, they see the world in a different way in comparison to english-speaking people. The second principle in this hypothesis is linguistic relativism, which states that, “because language determines our perception of reality, people who speak different languages will see the world differently.” This means that because some cultures have words for concepts, objects, or ideas that other cultures don’t, they will think of it with greater importance or in general, differently, than cultures that lack the specific word for it. Lera Boroditsky’s talk on youtube about the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis showcases the opposing opinions if a word exists due to its importance, or does a word exists in a language to ensure its importance. For example, does the importance of the coconut in the Solomon Islands occur due to its importance or to ensure its importance, as it is not as important in the USA? This theory portrays the factors that language can shape the way we think about the world as a whole because we are brought up in cultures which showcase the importance of our first language. It’s hard for bilingual people to completely immerse themselves in a new language because they are so used to that way of thinking in the culture that they were brought up in. Different languages see the world in a completely different way from others.

However, some theorists believe that just because one doesn’t have a word for a concept in their language, doesn’t mean that they can’t understand the concept. Many believe that because in areas that have never experienced this ‘concept,’ they don’t have a word for it, thus they will not understand the concept even when it is put in context. This opposes the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and thus the translation comes into play, in which one can translate the concept into something they are more familiar with in order for the other party involved to understand the concept. Is it true that just because one speaks a different language, they think differently? Not necessarily either. Overtime, cultures have merged forming very similar relationships in language, so much so that some words in different languages mean the same thing. Which constitutes to the factor that not all perceptions of the world are that greatly differed. People that speak different languages may understand each other due to similar words or phrases, for example the word amateur means, “a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science in a non-professional or unpaid manner,” in both french and english, thus aiding in understanding the fact that just because one may not speak the same language as another, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they do not understand the concept. Lera Borodistsky’s describes an event like this in a youtube video, in which she met a linguist in Cameroon who had to translate the bible for a remote tribe in the country. He believed that just because there isn’t a word to describe “white as snow” (a phrase from the bible), doesn’t necessarily mean that the tribe won’t understand it, if he puts in a phrase that the tribe would be more familiar with, such as ‘white as goat’s milk.’ However, does this slight ‘white lie’ in translation change the meaning as a whole? Not necessarily in this example, but what if one has to explain the concept of a theoretical complex idea? In this case, miscommunication can occur, which can have catastrophic consequences, both religiously and culturally. The more diverse perceptions become, amongst two parties, the more difficult it becomes to obtain a mutual understanding between the two parties, which can result in an affection on our interpersonal communication.

Overall, I believe that language plays an important role in the way we perceive ourselves and the world around us. It shapes the way we think and what we believe, as it is nurtured by the cultures we are brought up in. No matter how different languages are, they all contain a common facet, which is the importance of the language as a whole. People that are bilingual or even multilingual are exposed to greater diversity, and thus perceive the world in a completely different way than those who are unilingual. That factor is one constituent to the becoming of a more diverse culture, as it doesn’t limit us, as people, in our natural search for knowledge through language.