Pratt Psychology Group 1

Carolina, Kaylee, Shirin, Chance, Megan We recognize that Language affects one’s conception of reality. If we look at the example of two different languages, one example within the Science Forum discussion on Language and it’s influence on thought, “Hypography,” being Korean and English, it is noted that between these two vastly different languages, concepts are expressed uniquely. It reflects on the statement of, in English being, “I am going to the store,” that this expression to an English speaking individual is regarded as, “I am coming to the store and coming back.’ However, in Korean, you would not assume the person is coming back unless the person specifically states such. Therefore, language must be naturally built around of perception of reality. According to Pinker, “Language is understood in multiple as well as in direct [parts] of the content of the sentence.” Pinker 22. Therefore we can conclude that language is not thinking, but the expression of the process of cognition. We use metaphors and analogies within everyday life in the physical world to assist in explanation of abstract thoughts, which often can create discrepancies between unique experiences and cultural context. This can be seen in the work of Lawrence Weiner…He’s so bad ***. The work that he creates utilizes text and various graphic elements to create unique sculptural experiences for each viewer. Although the visual experience of the sculpture is universal, each person, based on their relationship to the language, viewers will create different abstract associations with his work. Thoughts?

A word is a verbal abstraction, created by and evolved within a society to represent a concrete or abstract entity to allow for communication. However, without the word the entity still is comprehensible, and undoubtedly exists. With one word, open interpretation and individual experience can lead us to derive different meanings and perceptions of the word. As society progresses and grasps new concepts, the language adapts as society adds new symbols (words) to further define entities. While a word is assigned a concrete definition, it's perception is objective and allows for a society to form as a whole a word's connotation, which changes as a culture does. Referencing Pinker's example, while three words carry the same denotation, their connotations are very different: "I am firm, you are obstinate, he is pigheaded.", or "I am exploring my sexuality, you are promiscuous, she is a slut." Abstract thought can also exist outside of words. Music and art are also versions of abstraction that exist without the use of words. A painting of a farmer in a field acts as an abstract symbol of that instance, just as the word field acts as a symbol for the idea of a field. Seeing the image of the farmer in the field creates a thought process of its own that does not necessarily utilize words. Cognitive thought is not bound by language, however it is directly affected by it. Abstract thought relies more heavily upon language, yet there are other forms of abstract thinking that utilize cognition. Such things as visual language are equivalent to and sometimes communicate information more easily than written language, and thus written language is not the only means for cognitive processes. Language therefore is not required for cognition as it serves merely as a symbol which can be, sometimes more effectively, represented in another manner. Rachael, Dara, Max, Ashely, Taissia