Fascinating interview (BBC, 1959) with one of my heroes, Bertrand Russell. Incredibly sharp and to-the-point, considering the fact that he’s 87 years old at the time of the interview. Watch the whole thing!
Do people who speak different languages think in a different way? According to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, they do. Think of the Piraha tribe in Brazil, where people can only count to three – but no higher. Or the fact that Russians can better distinguish between shades of blue because they have different words for them.
In the years since the the formulation of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, however, the concept of linguistic relativity has been rejected for the most part (by Noam Chomsky, among others). Even so, there is still much debate on the subject.
The existing theories range from the idea that language profoundly influences cognitive abilities to the idea that humans have a ‘hard-coded’ sense of language that is universal. Recently, a researcher named Lera Boroditsky wrote a fascinating article on empirical studies on the subject, that do seem to indicate that language has a strong effect on the way we think. Some quotes of particular interest:
Recently my group and others have figured out ways to empirically test some of the key questions in this ancient debate, with fascinating results. So instead of arguing about what must be true or what can’t be true, let’s find out what is true.
[…]
Instead of words like “right,” “left,” “forward,” and “back,” which, as commonly used in English, define space relative to an observer, the Kuuk Thaayorre, like many other Aboriginal groups, use cardinal-direction terms — north, south, east, and west — to define space. This is done at all scales, which means you have to say things like “There’s an ant on your southeast leg” or “Move the cup to the north northwest a little bit.”
[…]
The result is a profound difference in navigational ability and spatial knowledge between speakers of languages that rely primarily on absolute reference frames (like Kuuk Thaayorre) and languages that rely on relative reference frames (like English).
[…]
Even basic aspects of time perception can be affected by language. […] For example, when asked to estimate duration, English speakers are more likely to be confused by distance information, estimating that a line of greater length remains on the test screen for a longer period of time, whereas Greek speakers are more likely to be confused by amount, estimating that a container that is fuller remains longer on the screen.
And most interestingly:
This suggests that patterns in a language can indeed play a causal role in constructing how we think. In practical terms, it means that when you’re learning a new language, you’re not simply learning a new way of talking, you are also inadvertently learning a new way of thinking.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why being bilingual can protect us from Alzheimer’s?
The article mentions many more fascinating examples of how language influences people, ranging from the gender we use to depict death or time in human form to the adjectives that we relate to certain nouns. Read it, really!
An interview with the creator of the wonderful end credits to “WALL·E”
Jim Capobianco’s end credits to Andrew Stanton’s “WALL·E” are essential; they are the actual ending of the film, a perfect and fantastically optimistic conclusion to a grand, if imperfect idea. Humanity’s past and future evolution viewed through unspooling schools of art. Frame after frame sinks in as you smile self-consciously. It isn’t supposed to be this good but there it is. This is art in its own right. Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman’s song, “Down to Earth” indulges you with some incredibly thoughtful lyrics and, from the Stone Age to the Impressionists to the wonderful 8-bit pixel sprites, you are in the midst of something special.
WALL·E end title sequence + Jim Capobianco & Alex Woo interview | The Art of the Title Sequence.
You can view the credits here.
“John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.”
“The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.”
“The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.”
It’s been almost two weeks since we arrived in Sao Paulo, and more than six months since this here weblog was last updated: time for an update. Here our some of our observations.
Here’s a an easy to read list of my Sao Paulo observations, just for your convenience:
Traffic is insane, buses are inconvenient, and the metro system would be one of the best that I have experienced, were it not for all the people.
The internet cafés people pointed out to us either a) had computers from the stone age (Windows 98 sighting!), b) were ludicrously expensive, c) were closed due to renovation or whatnot, or d) vanished from the earth. It’s like they’re actively encouraging me to read books or engage in conversation…
Jack snores. Came dangerously close to hooking my left index finger through his left nostril, out his right, and yanking out the offending organ.
Showers actually do produce hot water in this country, it’s just that the water temperature is inversely related to the strength of the stream. Previous assessment of populace’ brass-ball status should be re-evaluated.
I fear for Jerome’s life if in the next twenty-four hours we don’t find something for him to catalogue, rearrange, or obsess over. A discussion where he defends some ridiculous religious belief would also work.
Learn some English, pessoas! Even if just to make life easier for us turistas!
Why does the English pub here serve ‘local Dutch beer’ that only drunks and homeless people would drink, and that sane Dutch people have never heard of?
They have Lucky Strikes! Halelujah!
Spent the night in a delightful local ‘motel’. Judging by the sounds emanating from the room next to ours (at regular intervals, broken up by the sound of the cleaning lady), Brazilians like to have loud, passionate sex that involves a lot of bum slapping. Apparently it’s because most hormonal youngsters here still live with their parents, and need a place to bump uglies. Who knew?
Monty Python is just as funny here as it is in Holland.
Okay, where to start?? I’ve met so many wonderful people in the short time that I’ve been here! CouchSurfed really is the best way to travel. I’ve met a whole range of people with different backgrounds, from all parts of the city, and each with a different idea of what’s worth experiencing in the city. I’ve discussed Rainbow Gatherings, learned about the local biking ‘protest’ movement ([Critical Mass / Bicicletada][]), visited two local universities, had coconut juice, went juggling, learned about Arcosanti, an ‘experimental town’ in Arizona, and much more. I love this city and its people! Cavalo!
(too tired to write. City very chaotic. Wish I had a map, phrasebook and a toilet bag that isn’t all sticky inside.)
And finally: here be some photos taken in the past weeks.
“When we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will topple like a house of cards. Checkmate!” – Zapp Brannigan, Futurama
“…spurns the contemptible sort of well-being dreamed of by shopkeepers, Christians, cows, women Englishmen and other democrats.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops. – Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse 5