Benjamin Medina

In Lera Boroditskys excerpt, Lost in Translation, she questions whether or not if the
languages we speak coincide with how we think and whether or not the structures in language
shape the thoughts we wish to express. There were certain studies and experiments conducted to
help answer these questions. I personally agree that the languages we speak do in fact coincide
with how we think and express our thoughts.
In the beginning paragraphs, it states that how changing the verb in different languages
can also affect the tense of the verb; which ultimately would affect the outcome of the situation
being described, depending on the language being spoken. Also, it says that not much work was
done in earlier times to help answer these questions, and that the idea was absurd. But, with new
found research, it proposes that language did impact how we viewed the world. In the excerpt, it
mentions that Dr. Chomsky proposed that a there was a universal grammar for all human
languages. He believed that because the languages did not differ, then there is no difference in
thinking amongst different people. I believe thats foolish, considering how many different
known languages there are around the world, especially how many different dialects as well.
In later paragraphs, it talks about how in Pormpuraaw, a remote Aboriginal community in
Australia, lacked the words, left and right in their language. To overcome, they simply use
cardinal directions instead (North, South, East, and West.) Lera Boroditsky and Alice Gaby
eventually decided to travel to Australia to conduct an experiment. The two then showed the
Pormpuraawans different images in temporal progression, and asked them to put the pictures in
order. It turns out that English speakers always ordered them left to right, Hebrew speakers
ordered them right to left, but the Pormpuraawans always ordered them from east to west,
disregarding which cardinal direction they were facing.
In another study, it states that English speakers described events in terms of specific

Benjamin Medina

agents, whereas Spanish and Japanese speakers dont use proper nouns to describe all situations.
I think that could ultimately have an impact on how an event is described. Caitlin Fausey of
Stanford conducted a study. She had different speakers of different languages watch videos of
events happening, both intentionally and accidentally. It turned out that Spanish and Japanese
speakers couldnt remember specific agents of the events that happened accidentally, but they
did, however, remember the ones that happened intentionally.
After all of these studies and tests, it turns out Lera Boroditsky believes that, if you
change the way people talk, it changes how they think. I would have to agree with her belief.
There are in fact different ways on how different languages describe certain outcomes and
events. This can very well alter the mental image that is meant to be expressed. She has further
theories that tie more deeply into her questions, such as whether or not the languages impact our
very own human nature, why we think the way we do, and how do we become how we are. The
article was interesting to read, because it made me realize that there are more aspects as to how
people think, and view life.