Japanese has a term that covers both green and blue. Russian has
separate terms for dark and light blue. Does this mean that
Russians perceive these colors differently from Japanese people?
Does language control and limit the way we think? This short,
opinionated book addresses the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which argues
that the language we speak shapes the way we perceive the world.
Linguist John McWhorter argues that while this idea is mesmerizing,
it is plainly wrong. It is language that reflects culture and
worldview, not the other way around. The fact that a language has
only one word for eat, drink, and smoke doesn't mean its speakers
don't process the difference between food and beverage, and those
who use the same word for blue and green perceive those two colors
just as vividly as others do. McWhorter shows not only how the idea
of language as a lens fails but also why we want so badly to
believe it: we're eager to celebrate diversity by acknowledging the
intelligence of peoples who may not think like we do. Though
well-intentioned, our belief in this idea poses an obstacle to a
better understanding of human nature and even trivializes the
people we seek to celebrate. The reality - that all humans think
alike - provides another, better way for us to acknowledge the
intelligence of all peoples.
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