interesting

[magicicada]

cislyn pointed me towards a very useful article on the Piraha indians.

Under Whorf's theory, people are only capable of constructing thoughts for which they possess actual words. In other words: Because they have no words for numbers, they can't even begin to understand the concept of numbers and arithmetic.

if there was ever a way to describe why everyone should learn a second language, this is it. this is why i study french. this is why my daughter will be learning spanish. learning a new language enables new thoughts which would be difficult or impossible to form without the words to express them.

Discuss.

Comments

[eugie.livejournal.com]

On a related but not-at-all-the-same note, babies are able to hear and distinguish between every single intonation that humans make in our myriad languages, but we lose that ability and become only able to distinguish the ones in the language(s) we're exposed to growing up.

I've noticed there are some tonal differences that I can hear--having grown up around both English and Chinese speakers--that the hubby can't.

Another argument for having kids be exposed to as many languages as possible.

[oldgrue.livejournal.com]

Those tonal difference are a godsend!

So, I've got a smattering of several languages : German, French, Spanish, Irish Gaelic, and Mandarin Chinese...

Mandarin is a nightmare, because my ear isn't accustomed to looking for aforementioned tonal clues. Because I didn't get raised around half a dozen languages, syntax is terribly difficult in everything but my primary language.

That said, one needs to be exposed to several languages as a part of their education to encourage more flexible thought. Accustomed to putting language in several combinations will lead to more agile thought. Don't limit them to Spanish. 20% of the planet speaks some Chinese dialect. Get at least 2 in there.

YMMV, as I blame trying to learn several languages for exercising my brain. It *could* just be that more stimulus is good, and TV bad. :)

[gardenwaltz.livejournal.com]

i won't limit her to spanish, but we're definitely going to start with only 1 new language at a time. she's still not quite ready to make choices like this for herself, and i don't want to push too hard.

[oldgrue.livejournal.com]

Kids are so durable, the fear is going to be what *you* can handle. :)
Don't be fooled - your little one will do fine.