Culture Other Resources
Core Readings
- Whorf, Benjamin Lee. (1956). "The Relation of Habitual Thought and Behavior to Language." Language, Thought and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. pp. 134-137; optional 137-159. Link 10 min
Key paper by a seminal thinker. Beyond page 137 Whorf requires careful reading. If you're interested in linguistic relativity, you may find this extra effort worthwhile.
- Boroditsky, Lera. "How Does Our Language Shape the Way We Think?" (2009). The Edge. Link
Boroditsky provides examples of linguistic relativity from around the world. For core ideas read highlighted sections. Read the whole article if you like.
- Boroditsky, Lera. "How Language Shapes Thought." (2011) Scientific American. Link
More examples of linguistic relativity from around the world. (Read highlighted portions only.)
- Lakoff, George. (2003). “Metaphor and War, Again.” Alternet. Link
Lakoff discusses how people in positions of power in U.S. government used particular words to frame war in Iraq to elicit popular support.
- Donges, Jan. (2009). "You Are What You Say." Scientific American. Link
Donges describes how word choice and syntax can be used to ascertain a speaker's/writer's mental state.
- Magic. (1999). Language We Live. Link
People living at Magic, an valuescience-based community, and aiming to cultivate health, cooperation, and environmental stewardship describe deliberate changes to idiolect they're making and advocate, and explain their rationales for doing so.
- Google N-gram Viewer Link
Here we can search a large library for given words and obtain a graphic display of changing frequency of use and more broadly evolution of language, and by dint of linguistic relativity, trends in thought. Search for example: "free market," "externalities," "browser," and "mouse." Search at least three other words of your choosing.
Quotations
- We do not realize what tremendous power the structure of an habitual language has. It is not an exaggeration to say that it enslaves us through the mechanism of s[emantic] r[eactions] and that the structure which a language exhibits, and impresses upon us unconsciously, is automatically projected upon the world around us." - Korzybski, Alfred. (1930). Science & Sanity. 90
- "We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native language. The categories and types that we isolate from the world of phenomena we do not find there because they stare every observer in the face; on the contrary, the world is presented in a kaleidoscope flux of impressions which has to be organized by our minds—and this means largely by the linguistic systems of our minds. We cut nature up, organize it into concepts, and ascribe significances as we do largely because we are parties to an agreement to organize it in this way—an agreement that holds throughout our speech community and is codified in the patterns of our language. The agreement is, of course, an implicit and unstated one, but its terms are absolutely obligatory; we cannot talk at all except by subscribing to the organization and classification of data which the agreement decrees. . . . We are thus introduced to a new principle of relativity, which holds that all observers are not led by the same physical evidence to the same picture of the universe, unless their linguistic backgrounds are similar, or can in some way be calibrated." - From Whorf, Benjamin; Carroll, John B. (ed.). (1956). Language, Thought, and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 213- 214.
Interest Readings
- "It's No Accident: Advocates Want to Speak of Car 'Crashes' Instead." NYTimes. (22 May 2016). Link
Here's linguistic evolution underway, with those pressing for change clearly stating interests they're aiming to further. I find interesting historical pressures out of which current usage arose. Please reflect upon import of this change, and think about other ways you might evolve language to reshape your and others' thought and perception. 5pp., 5 min.
- Wikipedia. (2009). "Linguistic Relativity." Link
Introduction to concept. Detailed history of development. For overview read first paragraph and "Present Status."
- Boroditsky, Lera, "Language and Perception." (2006) World Question Center. Link
Boroditsky writes of how she set out to disprove linguistic relativity and instead confirmed it.
- Wikipedia. “Propaganda Model” Link
Discussion of Herman’s and Chomsky’s model of media as instruments to perpetuate an ideology favorable to a power elite, including supporting examples of media in this role. 10pp., 10min.
- "Frank Luntz." Wikipedia. Link
Article about right-wing cognitive activist.
- "George Lakoff." Wikipedia. Link
Article about left-wing cognitive activist.
- Leanse, Ellen P.. (25 June 2015.) "Google and Apple Alum Says Using This One Word Can Damage Your Credibility." Business Insider Link (2pp., 2 min.)
I find this an interesting example of how people are becoming more aware of the potential benefits of conscious evolution of idiolect.
- Robb, Alice. (April 23, 2014.) "Multilinguals Have Multiple Personalities." Link
Multilinguals evidence different personality traits when tested in different languages.
- Orwell, George. (1946). "Politics and the English Language." 1st two paragraphs. Link
Orwell writes of evolution of language, its causes and consequences.
- Slashdot. (2009). "Babies Begin Learning Language in the Womb. Link
Brief article with links to research reports that babies emerge with vocalizations tuned to mother's tongue.
Pennebaker has created a tool for analysis of writers' predilection for particular vocabulary.
