Meng - Blog 8

How can the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis help explain your communication with the kids at Neque?

 Sapir-Whorf says that language shapes culture. To some extent, it is true. As a Chinese who studied almost two in U.S., I can feel that we are thinking in a different way as Americans. I cannot explain what difference it is, but I still can feel it. I think the American are more think in a directly way, but Chinese people are always in a softer ways. Sometimes I feel some culture shocks because I don't understand why they doing in this way. From my point of view, it is because we are using the different language that makes to thinking in different logics.

But when I playing with the kids, I didn't feel too much that language shapes the culture. I mean, even I don't know any Spanish, I still can play with them. Maybe it is because they are still very young, and didn't rely too much on language to express themselves. I use body language to communicate; it is still running well. We can definitely understand each other. And I didn't feel any difference in thinking ways.




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