Does language affect thoughts or thoughts affect language?

Answer 1

Predominantly, language affects thought. Starting to teach philosophy in the vernacular, instead of in Latin, was a significant factor in the subsequent "Enlightenment" of approximately 1750-1800.

Secondarily, thought affects language. More tolerance of homosexuality allowed the general use of "gay". Without the tolerance first, it would not have achieved such wide use.

Answer 2

Read George Orwell's 1984. Language limits thought. That's why the English language is constantly growing. An idea is just an idea until we have a word for it and it can be shared.
Furthermore, the connotations of various words affects our perceptions and words themselves colour. Something that is big can be described as palatial or monstrous, thereby having our images/perceptions/thoughts manipulated by language. Naming things and labelling things is one of the first ways that humans learn to relate to their world.

Answer 3

i'm no longer a linguist or cognitive scientist, so those are purely theories. I truthfully have frequently questioned if languages that permit the creation of compound words, which includes German, enable you to construct thoughts greater rapidly. some language are additionally exceptionally sparse as to the style you combine subjects and verbs. as an occasion in French you are able to desire to declare "Je tu pose une question" which looks very effectual whilst positioned next to the English shape "i visit invite you a question." different languages even have genders that we lack in English. i ask your self whether audio device of those languages think of of particular products as having genders while in English we purely then to think of of inanimate products as genderless issues. It looks like a created much greater questions. Oh properly, this might properly be a funky question to invite!

Answer 4

Yes and Yes

Answer 5

Yes and Yes.

Answer 6

You bet!

Answer 7

both