By Geralde Vincent-Bancroft

How Language Shapes Our Thinking 

Imagine you’re describing an object in front of you. If you’re speaking English, your words might convey the shape or color, like “a small, red table.” But if you’re speaking Jahai, an Indigenous language in Malaysia, your description might focus on its scent instead. This single example lays bare one profound truth about language and thought: the structures and vocabularies of our languages profoundly shape how we perceive and interact with the world. 

For decades, scholars and researchers have debated the connection between language and thought. While earlier ideas, like strict “linguistic determinism,” proposed that language dictates thought entirely, modern views suggest something more nuanced. Language doesn’t confine us, but it does guide us, like a gentle wind nudging us in specific directions. 

This article dives into how the words we speak daily influence our memories, perceptions, and experiences of reality. 

What Does It Mean for Language to Shape Thought? 

First, it’s important to clarify what it means for language to influence thought. It’s not that someone speaking a different language views the world in a totally alien way. Instead, the way a language categorizes and describes various aspects of reality—from time and space to color and smell—can lead speakers to emphasize, remember, or process certain information differently. 

This concept is often discussed under the umbrella of “neo-Whorfianism,” named after linguist Benjamin Lee Whorf, whose early 20th-century work sparked this line of inquiry. Although Whorf’s original theories were criticized for their rigidity, contemporary research builds on the core idea that language subtly affects cognition. 

A Simple Example of Linguistic Influence 

Take color, for example. While English uses a single word for “blue,” Russian distinguishes between “siniy” (dark blue) and “goluboy” (light blue). Studies show that Russian speakers are faster at visually distinguishing these shades than English speakers. This doesn’t mean English speakers perceive blue less clearly but that Russian encourages its speakers to categorize colors more precisely in everyday thought. 

How Language Naturally Shapes Key Thinking Patterns 

1. Time and Space 

Languages organize time differently, influencing how speakers perceive and talk about it. 

• English: Time flows from left to right—we “look ahead” to the future and “leave the past behind.” 
• Aymara (Andean language): The future is considered behind the speaker (unseeable), while the past is in front of them (visible). This concept even influences gestures, with Aymara speakers pointing backward when discussing the future. 
• Yupno (New Guinea): Time flows along physical terrain! The “future” travels uphill while the “past” flows downhill. 

These differences shape how communities remember and arrange events. Speaking Aymara, for instance, might lead one to focus on tangible, visible evidence of past experiences when discussing history. 

2. Sensory Perception 

One of the most groundbreaking findings in linguistics is how language can enhance sensory awareness. 

Many Western languages, such as English, lack nuanced vocabularies for smells, relying on comparisons like “smoky” or “fruity.” Conversely, Jahai speakers in Malaysia can pinpoint odors with incredible precision using specific abstract terms. For example, “itpit” describes the smell of durian as well as certain woods and animals. 

This linguistic richness changes how Jahai speakers understand the olfactory world. Studies reveal they perform far better than English speakers in identifying and naming smells, showing how language strengthens certain senses. 

3. Memory and Categorization 

Languages not only guide what we notice but also shape how we remember and categorize information. 

For example, Hopi, a Native American language, uses verbs to describe something collectively as an ongoing process. This contrasts with English, which emphasizes dividing time into distinct units. Scholars argue that such structures may lead Hopi speakers to view events in a more interconnected, holistic way compared to English speakers. 

Additionally, languages that assign gender to nouns (like Spanish and German) may influence how speakers associate attributes with certain objects. A German speaker might describe a bridge (feminine in German) as “elegant,” while a French speaker (where the word for bridge is masculine) might call it “sturdy.” 

4. Equality and Social Norms 

Languages can shape societal attitudes by embedding cultural norms into their vocabulary. 

For example, Hindi is rich with idioms and terms rooted in the caste system, reflecting centuries of rigid social hierarchy. Dalit writer Chandra Bhan Prasad argued that English, with its egalitarian undertones, provides an escape from this entrenched bias. Adopting English as their primary language allowed Dalits to rethink and challenge traditional expectations tied to their heritage. 

What It Means for Multilingual Speakers 

For those who speak multiple languages, the experience of thinking in different tongues can feel like adopting entirely new perspectives. Julie Sedivy, a linguist fluent in five languages, explains that each language feels like its own personality with unique “social habits, judgments, and styles of thought.” 

Multilingualism provides incredible cognitive flexibility. Research suggests it can help people develop enhanced problem-solving skills, creativity, and even empathy, as switching between languages fosters the ability to view situations from multiple angles. 

Why This Matters in Our Globalized World 

The spread of languages like English may seem to homogenize cultures, but it also spawns fascinating variations. Local communities adapt English to their needs, creating unique offshoots like Singlish in Singapore or Nigerian Pidgin. These creoles reflect the cultural richness of their speakers while maintaining English’s accessibility. 

However, as more dominant languages overshadow smaller ones, we risk losing the incredible cognitive diversity that lesser-spoken languages offer. The specific ways different languages encode time, color, and even touch enrich human understanding and create previously unimaginable ways of thinking. 

Language’s Power to Connect and Transform 

Language and thought are inextricably linked, shaping not only our perceptions but also how we connect with others. The interplay between the two is dynamic; just as language can influence how we see the world, our changing worldview can shape the languages we use. 

The next time you find yourself searching for just the right word, remember this: words do more than describe our reality. They shape it. Whether you’re fluent in a single language or shifting between many, the words you choose carry an invisible yet profound influence on how you think, feel, and engage with the world. 

What are your thoughts on how language influences perception? Share your experiences in the comments below! Whatever language you use to express your ideas, one thing is clear—we’re all learning to see the world through words.