| Timestamp: | Topic: | Response: |
| 00:00-08:00 | Dr. Boroditsky discusses the constructs of languages. | I think that this idea is important because it serves as a reminder that all language has been invented. I have often taken for granted the concept of language as just being an inherent part of everyday life. Here, Boroditsky really breaks apart language to show how these are truly unique sound inventions that vary vastly in structure. By this line of thinking, I am reminded of the activity in Module 1 wherein we were asked to define technology. I think this part of the video showcases how language can be seen as a technology for communication. |
| 11:00-14:30 | Dr. Boroditsky looks at the idea of representing time directionally and with gestures. | This part of Boroditsky’s talk reminded me of some of my own personal experiences traveling and encountering movements and gestures that did not align with how I interpreted them here in Canada or, largely, in native English-speaking countries. Specifically, when traveling in India I found myself very confused when asking questions. It seemed to me that oftentimes people were shaking their heads, which I interpreted as them essentially saying “no” to my request of question. While I do not know enough about the culture to make a blanket statement, I came to find out that many times this gesture actually meant agreement with what I was saying. This video reminded me of this realization and of the fact that beyond the spoken words, how language is delivered and what accompanies language in terms of gestures and expressions can also be unique to a particular language. This means that in order to truly know a language, one needs to also be fluent in the associated elements. |
| 20:00-26:00 | The relationship between language and gender is explored by Dr. Boroditsky. | This portion of the talk made me question whether or not there exist correlations between languages that assign genders to words and more tightly assigned gender roles and gender norms in the wider society associated with that language. Assigning gender to words also stirs up memories of growing up as a French as a second language learner, like many in Canada. I always found it so interesting yet confusing how gender was assigned to words and that that impacted spelling and the use of other words to describe that word. I remember one of my teachers at the time saying that one could usually “guess” the gender of nouns based on their characteristics. Going back to my initial point, I wonder if this leads to the perpetuation of what individuals feel are male (masculine) vs. female (feminine) qualities. |
| 27:00-34:00 | Dr. Boroditsky examines the link between language and how individuals retain information. | I feel as though this is a particularly important portion of Dr. Boroditsky’s talk as she proposes and provides evidence for the idea, in a broad sense, that language shapes how people see the world. This causes me to question another nuisance unique to languages and how that affects one’s acquisition of another language. I wonder if, in learning another language, how one sees oneself and the world shifts somewhat. This idea seems, to me, to be a culmination of many of the points Dr. Boroditsky has made so far in the talk. Not only the question of whether language helps shape who you are but also whether acquiring another language shifts this at all. |
| 34:00-40:30 | The relationship between language and one’s mathematical reasoning skills is examined. | Dr. Boroditsky’s point resonates with me here with regard to math instruction, especially at the junior school level. For those involved in this level, “the science of reading” is an approach to reading instruction that has grown in popularity in recent years and is considered by many to now represent best practice. Based on what I have observed, approaches to math instruction have not seen the same broad consensus in best practice. Dr. Boroditsky highlights an element of what I think could be considered part of a “science of math” approach to instruction. Language, according to the examples explored in the talk, is the single most essential skill associated with math reasoning and understanding. Perhaps more time needs to be spent on exploring the language of math, especially with students who may have a first language with a different approach to numbers. |
| 45:00- | Ideas around how language and culture shape our world and our perspective are presented. | I felt that the final portion of the talk highlighted the difficulty in being able to fully communicate across languages. As Dr. Boroditsky mentions, it is impossible to precisely translate between languages, even with those that are closely linked. I am reminded of my time living abroad and some of the miscommunication I encountered with coworkers. While these coworkers would be considered fluent in English, there were countless instances of miscommunication between us. This miscommunication may have stemmed from a range of factors, including those that Dr. Boroditsky mentions. Beyond that, I remember times when I needed their assistance in translating something into their first language from English. Sometimes my coworkers struggled with how to capture the exact meaning of my communication and translate that. On one particular occasion, I remember how the tone of a translated message was completely off and highlighted the dangers of miscommunication. |
Does language shape the way we think? This is an interesting question that it touched upon throughout this module. While Dr. Boroditsky takes a scientific approach and attempts to explicitly answer this question, both Alexander MacDonald and Christine de Luca address this idea in their own ways. I think that language does play a part in shaping the way we think, how we see the world and how we interact with others. That being said, I think that language can also extend beyond what may be formally considered language. Alexander MacDonald makes me consider whether language has a broader term that includes any way of encoding and decoding texts. For MacDonald, I wonder if he thinks differently based on the way in which he receives and interacts with tap and dance texts. For example, I am curious if the rhythm and cadence of speech hold any stronger meaning for him when decoding spoken language.
In both Dr. Boroditsky’s article and video she presents empirical research to back her claims. For me, many of her points resonated with my years living and working abroad. Oftentimes I chalked up the miscommunication I experienced abroad as a product of cultural difference. While I think that cultural differences are very much a real thing and have notable effects on understanding, I had never really considered the power of language. Before engaging with this module I had considered language to largely be a predetermined set of rules that allows for the formalic encoding and decoding of written and spoken texts. What I had not considered was the possibility that language impacts the ways in which we see and interact with the world around us. Looking back, I wonder how many of those instances of miscommunication were rooted in the languages we spoke and the fact that language can never truly be translated as it is much more than simply words.
References:
Boroditsky, L. (2011). How language shapes thought. Scientific American, 304(2), 62-65.
TEDx Talks. (2016, February 26). Oral tradition in the age of smart phones | Alexander MacDonald | TEDxFulbrightDublin [Video]. YouTube.
Wikitongues. (2014, September 21). WIKITONGUES: Christine speaking Shetlandic [Video]. YouTube.
With the world changing, our worldview changes with time and history. I feel that the curriculum in Canada acknowledges the worldviews we have as a multicultural country. In addition to learning and relearning our Indigenous pedagogies and Principles of Learning. It was a great video to self reflect and to think about communication because at times, I can totally see and feel when a student or an individual does not understand my values at full capacity or depth. I feel that culture and language is vital in practice.