TEDWomen 2017
Lera Boroditsky: How language shapes the way we think
Lera Boroditsky: Como modela a lingua a nosa forma de pensar
Filmed:
Readability: 3.3
9,816,653 views
Existen cerca de 7000 linguas faladas no mundo e todas elas teñen diferentes sons, vocabularios e estruturas. Pero, poden modelar a nosa forma de pensar? A científica congnitiva, Lera Boroditsky, comparte algúns exemplos, desde unha comunidade aborixe en Australia que emprega puntos cardinais en vez de dereita e esquerda, ata as múltiples palabras que existen para chamarlle ao azul en ruso, que suxiren que a resposta é un rotundo si. Segundo Boroditsky, o bo da diversidade lingüística é que nos revela o enxeñosa e flexible que é a mente humana, "A mente humana inventou non un, senón 7000 universos cognitivos".
Lera Boroditsky - Cognitive scientist
Lera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart. Full bio
Lera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So, I'll be speaking to you
using language ...
using language ...
0
940
2575
Vouvos falar usando a linguaxe...,
00:16
because I can.
1
4090
1520
porque podo.
00:17
This is one these magical abilities
that we humans have.
that we humans have.
2
5634
3153
Esta é unha desas habilidades
máxicas que temos os humanos.
máxicas que temos os humanos.
Podemos transmitirlles pensamentos
moi complexos a outros.
moi complexos a outros.
00:21
We can transmit really complicated
thoughts to one another.
thoughts to one another.
3
9114
3952
00:25
So what I'm doing right now is,
I'm making sounds with my mouth
I'm making sounds with my mouth
4
13479
3595
O que estou facendo agora mesmo é
facer sons coa boca
facer sons coa boca
00:29
as I'm exhaling.
5
17098
1215
mentres expiro.
Fago tons, asubíos e sopros
00:30
I'm making tones and hisses and puffs,
6
18337
2348
00:32
and those are creating
air vibrations in the air.
air vibrations in the air.
7
20709
3010
e todo iso crea vibracións no aire.
00:35
Those air vibrations are traveling to you,
8
23743
2446
Esas vibracións no aire
viaxan cara a vós,
viaxan cara a vós,
acadan os vosos tímpanos,
00:38
they're hitting your eardrums,
9
26213
1785
00:40
and then your brain takes
those vibrations from your eardrums
those vibrations from your eardrums
10
28022
4580
e logo o voso cerebro recolle
esas vibracións nos tímpanos
esas vibracións nos tímpanos
00:44
and transforms them into thoughts.
11
32626
2753
e transfórmaas en pensamentos.
Iso espero.
00:48
I hope.
12
36031
1151
(Risos)
00:49
(Laughter)
13
37206
1003
Espero que ocorra iso.
00:50
I hope that's happening.
14
38233
1157
Así que, grazas a esta habilidade,
os humanos somos quen de transmitir ideas
os humanos somos quen de transmitir ideas
00:51
So because of this ability,
we humans are able to transmit our ideas
we humans are able to transmit our ideas
15
39414
4576
a través do espazo e do tempo.
00:56
across vast reaches of space and time.
16
44014
2692
Somos capaces de transmitir
coñecemento a través das mentes.
coñecemento a través das mentes.
00:58
We're able to transmit
knowledge across minds.
knowledge across minds.
17
46730
4536
Podo poñer unha idea nova e estraña
na vosa mente agora mesmo.
na vosa mente agora mesmo.
01:03
I can put a bizarre new idea
in your mind right now.
in your mind right now.
18
51290
3161
Podería dicir:
01:06
I could say,
19
54475
1155
01:08
"Imagine a jellyfish waltzing in a library
20
56367
3208
"Imaxinade unha medusa
bailando un valse nunha biblioteca
bailando un valse nunha biblioteca
mentres pensa en mecánica cuántica."
01:11
while thinking about quantum mechanics."
21
59599
2176
01:13
(Laughter)
22
61799
1398
(Risos)
01:15
Now, if everything has gone
relatively well in your life so far,
relatively well in your life so far,
23
63221
3028
Se todo vos foi relativamente
ben na vida ata agora,
ben na vida ata agora,
01:18
you probably haven't had
that thought before.
that thought before.
24
66273
2112
pode que nunca pensarades niso antes.
01:20
(Laughter)
25
68409
1002
(Risos)
Pero agora fíxenvolo pensar,
01:21
But now I've just made you think it,
26
69435
1732
a través da linguaxe.
01:23
through language.
27
71191
1155
Por suposto, non hai só
unha lingua no mundo,
unha lingua no mundo,
01:24
Now of course, there isn't just
one language in the world,
one language in the world,
28
72654
2724
fálanse ao redor de 7000 linguas
arredor del.
arredor del.
01:27
there are about 7,000 languages
spoken around the world.
spoken around the world.
29
75402
2645
E todas as linguas difiren
unhas doutras de xeitos moi distintos.
unhas doutras de xeitos moi distintos.
01:30
And all the languages differ
from one another in all kinds of ways.
from one another in all kinds of ways.
30
78071
3160
Algunhas linguas teñen sons diferentes,
01:33
Some languages have different sounds,
31
81255
3091
01:36
they have different vocabularies,
32
84370
1719
teñen vocabularios diferentes,
e teñen diferentes estruturas,
01:38
and they also have different structures --
33
86113
2039
moi importante, diferentes estruturas.
01:40
very importantly, different structures.
34
88176
1887
01:42
That begs the question:
35
90896
1192
Iso implica a pregunta:
A linguaxe que falamos conforma
o xeito en que pensamos?
o xeito en que pensamos?
01:44
Does the language we speak
shape the way we think?
shape the way we think?
36
92112
2612
É unha pregunta moi antiga.
01:46
Now, this is an ancient question.
37
94748
1572
01:48
People have been speculating
about this question forever.
about this question forever.
38
96344
3171
A xente sempre especulou
sobre esta cuestión.
sobre esta cuestión.
Carlomagno, emperador
do Sacro Imperio Romano, dixo:
do Sacro Imperio Romano, dixo:
01:51
Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor, said,
39
99539
2317
"Ter unha segunda lingua
é ter unha segunda alma"
é ter unha segunda alma"
01:53
"To have a second language
is to have a second soul" --
is to have a second soul" --
40
101880
3036
unha opinión categórica de que
a lingua modela a realidade.
a lingua modela a realidade.
01:56
strong statement
that language crafts reality.
that language crafts reality.
41
104940
2503
01:59
But on the other hand,
Shakespeare has Juliet say,
Shakespeare has Juliet say,
42
107992
2990
Pero, por outra parte,
Shakespeare fixo que Xulieta dixera:
Shakespeare fixo que Xulieta dixera:
02:03
"What's in a name?
43
111006
1151
"Que hai nun nome?
Unha rosa con outro nome
ule igual de ben."
ule igual de ben."
02:04
A rose by any other name
would smell as sweet."
would smell as sweet."
44
112181
2334
02:07
Well, that suggests that maybe
language doesn't craft reality.
language doesn't craft reality.
45
115504
3053
Ben, isto suxire que talvez
a lingua non modela a realidade.
a lingua non modela a realidade.
02:10
These arguments have gone
back and forth for thousands of years.
back and forth for thousands of years.
46
118926
4006
Estes argumentos estiveron aí
durante miles de anos.
durante miles de anos.
02:15
But until recently,
there hasn't been any data
there hasn't been any data
47
123400
2731
Pero ata hai pouco, non había ningún dato
02:18
to help us decide either way.
48
126155
1556
que nos axudase a tomar partido.
02:20
Recently, in my lab
and other labs around the world,
and other labs around the world,
49
128230
2452
Hai pouco, no meu laboratorio
e noutros polo mundo,
e noutros polo mundo,
02:22
we've started doing research,
50
130706
1392
comezamos a investigar
02:24
and now we have actual scientific data
to weigh in on this question.
to weigh in on this question.
51
132122
4437
e agora temos datos científicos reais
para avaliar a cuestión.
para avaliar a cuestión.
02:28
So let me tell you about
some of my favorite examples.
some of my favorite examples.
52
136918
2541
Vouvos contar algúns
dos meus exemplos preferidos.
dos meus exemplos preferidos.
02:31
I'll start with an example
from an Aboriginal community in Australia
from an Aboriginal community in Australia
53
139846
3414
Comezarei co dunha comunidade aborixe
en Australia
en Australia
02:35
that I had the chance to work with.
54
143284
1728
coa que puiden traballar.
Estes son os Kuuk Thaayorre.
02:37
These are the Kuuk Thaayorre people.
55
145036
1743
Viven en Pormpuraaw,
no límite oeste do cabo York.
no límite oeste do cabo York.
02:38
They live in Pormpuraaw
at the very west edge of Cape York.
at the very west edge of Cape York.
56
146803
3794
02:43
What's cool about Kuuk Thaayorre is,
57
151351
2236
O que máis me gusta deles é que
02:45
in Kuuk Thaayorre, they don't use
words like "left" and "right,"
words like "left" and "right,"
58
153611
3058
en Kuuk Thaayorre non usan
palabras como "esquerda" e "dereita",
palabras como "esquerda" e "dereita",
en lugar diso, todo
se sitúa en puntos cardinais:
se sitúa en puntos cardinais:
02:48
and instead, everything
is in cardinal directions:
is in cardinal directions:
59
156693
2684
02:51
north, south, east and west.
60
159401
1424
norte, sur, leste e oeste.
02:53
And when I say everything,
I really mean everything.
I really mean everything.
61
161425
2535
E cando digo todo,
digo todo de verdade.
digo todo de verdade.
02:55
You would say something like,
62
163984
1551
Poden dicir algo como:
02:57
"Oh, there's an ant
on your southwest leg."
on your southwest leg."
63
165559
2512
"Eh, tes unha formiga
na perna do suroeste."
na perna do suroeste."
03:01
Or, "Move your cup
to the north-northeast a little bit."
to the north-northeast a little bit."
64
169178
2656
Ou "Move a cunca un pouco
cara ao nor-nordeste."
cara ao nor-nordeste."
De feito, "ola" en Kuuk Thaayorre dise:
03:04
In fact, the way that you say "hello"
in Kuuk Thaayorre is you say,
in Kuuk Thaayorre is you say,
65
172404
3480
"En que dirección vas?"
03:07
"Which way are you going?"
66
175908
1266
E a resposta debería ser:
03:09
And the answer should be,
67
177198
1332
"Nor-nordeste ao lonxe.
03:11
"North-northeast in the far distance.
68
179014
1772
E ti?"
03:12
How about you?"
69
180810
1321
Así que imaxinade que ides paseando
03:14
So imagine as you're walking
around your day,
around your day,
70
182155
3132
03:17
every person you greet,
71
185311
1549
e a cada persoa que saudades,
03:18
you have to report your heading direction.
72
186884
2071
tedes que dicirlle en que dirección ides.
(Risos)
03:20
(Laughter)
73
188979
1179
03:22
But that would actually get you
oriented pretty fast, right?
oriented pretty fast, right?
74
190182
3331
Pero iso obrigaríavos
a orientarvos bastante rápido, non si?
a orientarvos bastante rápido, non si?
03:25
Because you literally
couldn't get past "hello,"
couldn't get past "hello,"
75
193537
2960
Porque non poderiades pasar
dicindo só: "Ola",
dicindo só: "Ola",
03:28
if you didn't know
which way you were going.
which way you were going.
76
196521
2075
se non soubésedes en que dirección iades.
03:31
In fact, people who speak languages
like this stay oriented really well.
like this stay oriented really well.
77
199969
3492
De feito, os que falan linguas
como esta oriéntanse moi ben.
como esta oriéntanse moi ben.
Fano mellor do que pensabamos
que podían facelo os humanos.
que podían facelo os humanos.
03:35
They stay oriented better
than we used to think humans could.
than we used to think humans could.
78
203485
2925
Pensabamos que os humanos
eran peores que outros animais
eran peores que outros animais
03:38
We used to think that humans
were worse than other creatures
were worse than other creatures
79
206840
2852
por algunha escusa biolóxica:
03:41
because of some biological excuse:
80
209716
1716
03:43
"Oh, we don't have magnets
in our beaks or in our scales."
in our beaks or in our scales."
81
211456
3325
"Non temos imáns no bico ou na pel."
Non, se a vosa linguaxe e a vosa cultura
vos adestran para iso,
vos adestran para iso,
03:46
No; if your language and your culture
trains you to do it,
trains you to do it,
82
214805
2942
03:49
actually, you can do it.
83
217771
1249
podedes facelo.
03:51
There are humans around the world
who stay oriented really well.
who stay oriented really well.
84
219044
3040
Hai humanos que se orientan moi ben.
E só para que vexades
03:54
And just to get us in agreement
85
222108
2128
03:56
about how different this is
from the way we do it,
from the way we do it,
86
224260
2595
o diferente que é a como o facemos nós,
03:58
I want you all to close
your eyes for a second
your eyes for a second
87
226879
2764
quero que pechedes os ollos por un segundo
04:02
and point southeast.
88
230887
1353
e apuntedes ao sueste.
04:04
(Laughter)
89
232264
1710
(Risos)
04:05
Keep your eyes closed. Point.
90
233998
1578
Pechade os ollos. Apuntade.
04:10
OK, so you can open your eyes.
91
238095
2017
Ben, podedes abrir os ollos.
04:12
I see you guys pointing there,
there, there, there, there ...
there, there, there, there ...
92
240136
3779
Vexo xente apuntando alí, alí, alí...
04:16
I don't know which way it is myself --
93
244529
1878
Nin eu mesma sei onde está.
(Risos)
04:18
(Laughter)
94
246431
1664
Non me axudastes moito.
04:20
You have not been a lot of help.
95
248119
1658
(Risos)
04:21
(Laughter)
96
249801
1317
Digamos que a precisión
nesta sala non foi moita.
nesta sala non foi moita.
04:23
So let's just say the accuracy
in this room was not very high.
in this room was not very high.
97
251142
2920
Hai unha gran diferenza
de capacidade cognitiva entre linguas.
de capacidade cognitiva entre linguas.
04:26
This is a big difference in cognitive
ability across languages, right?
ability across languages, right?
98
254086
3360
Mentres un grupo,
un tan distinguido coma vós,
un tan distinguido coma vós,
04:29
Where one group -- very
distinguished group like you guys --
distinguished group like you guys --
99
257470
3395
non sabe que dirección é cal,
04:32
doesn't know which way is which,
100
260889
1563
noutro grupo,
04:34
but in another group,
101
262476
1336
ata o sabería un neno de 5 anos
se llo pregunto.
se llo pregunto.
04:35
I could ask a five-year-old
and they would know.
and they would know.
102
263836
2290
(Risos)
04:38
(Laughter)
103
266150
1084
Tamén hai diferenzas moi grandes
en como a xente pensa sobre o tempo.
en como a xente pensa sobre o tempo.
04:39
There are also really big differences
in how people think about time.
in how people think about time.
104
267258
3420
Aquí teño imaxes do meu avó
a diferentes idades.
a diferentes idades.
04:42
So here I have pictures
of my grandfather at different ages.
of my grandfather at different ages.
105
270702
4017
04:46
And if I ask an English speaker
to organize time,
to organize time,
106
274743
3227
E se lle pido a un falante de inglés
que as ordene temporalmente,
que as ordene temporalmente,
04:49
they might lay it out this way,
107
277994
1485
podería aliñalas así,
de esquerda a dereita.
04:51
from left to right.
108
279503
1151
Ten que ver coa dirección da escrita.
04:52
This has to do with writing direction.
109
280678
1831
Pero para un falante de hebreo ou árabe,
04:54
If you were a speaker of Hebrew or Arabic,
110
282533
2026
a dirección sería a contraria,
04:56
you might do it going
in the opposite direction,
in the opposite direction,
111
284583
2290
04:58
from right to left.
112
286897
1150
de dereita a esquerda.
Como o farían os Kuuk Thaayorre,
05:01
But how would the Kuuk Thaayorre,
113
289578
1585
este grupo aborixe do que vos falei?
05:03
this Aboriginal group I just
told you about, do it?
told you about, do it?
114
291187
2394
Non usan palabras como
"esquerda" e "dereita".
"esquerda" e "dereita".
05:05
They don't use words
like "left" and "right."
like "left" and "right."
115
293605
2118
05:07
Let me give you hint.
116
295747
1492
Vouvos dar unha pista.
05:09
When we sat people facing south,
117
297263
2551
Cando sentamos a xente cara ao sur,
organizan o tempo de esquerda a dereita.
05:11
they organized time from left to right.
118
299838
1858
05:14
When we sat them facing north,
119
302391
2183
Cando os sentamos cara ao norte,
05:16
they organized time from right to left.
120
304598
1975
organízano de dereita a esquerda.
05:19
When we sat them facing east,
121
307026
2055
Cando os sentamos de cara ao leste,
05:21
time came towards the body.
122
309105
1740
o tempo vén cara a eles.
05:23
What's the pattern?
123
311608
1311
Cal é o padrón?
05:26
East to west, right?
124
314056
1699
Leste a oeste, non?
Así que para eles, o tempo
non se aloxa no corpo,
non se aloxa no corpo,
05:27
So for them, time doesn't actually
get locked on the body at all,
get locked on the body at all,
125
315779
3502
05:31
it gets locked on the landscape.
126
319305
1540
alóxase na paisaxe.
Para min, se me sitúo así,
05:32
So for me, if I'm facing this way,
127
320869
1718
05:34
then time goes this way,
128
322611
1157
o tempo vai así,
e se me sitúo así, o tempo vai así.
05:35
and if I'm facing this way,
then time goes this way.
then time goes this way.
129
323792
2473
05:38
I'm facing this way, time goes this way --
130
326289
2000
Sitúome así, o tempo vai así,
é moi egocéntrico facer que
a dirección do tempo me siga
a dirección do tempo me siga
05:40
very egocentric of me to have
the direction of time chase me around
the direction of time chase me around
131
328313
3967
05:44
every time I turn my body.
132
332304
1640
cada vez que xiro o corpo.
05:46
For the Kuuk Thaayorre,
time is locked on the landscape.
time is locked on the landscape.
133
334598
2647
Para os Kuuk Thaayorre,
o tempo está na paisaxe.
o tempo está na paisaxe.
É un xeito moi diferente
de pensar sobre o tempo.
de pensar sobre o tempo.
05:49
It's a dramatically different way
of thinking about time.
of thinking about time.
134
337269
2819
05:52
Here's another really smart human trick.
135
340112
1911
Aquí hai outro truco humano moi bo.
05:54
Suppose I ask you
how many penguins are there.
how many penguins are there.
136
342047
2213
Supoñede que vos pregunto
cantos pingüíns hai.
cantos pingüíns hai.
05:56
Well, I bet I know how you'd solve
that problem if you solved it.
that problem if you solved it.
137
344958
3154
Aposto a que sei como resolvestes
o problema, se o fixestes.
o problema, se o fixestes.
06:00
You went, "One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight."
four, five, six, seven, eight."
138
348136
2827
Fixestes: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8."
Contástelos.
06:02
You counted them.
139
350987
1164
Nomeástelos cun número,
06:04
You named each one with a number,
140
352175
1609
e o último número que dixestes
era o número de pingüíns.
era o número de pingüíns.
06:05
and the last number you said
was the number of penguins.
was the number of penguins.
141
353808
2636
Este é un truquiño
que nos ensinaron de pequenos.
que nos ensinaron de pequenos.
06:08
This is a little trick
that you're taught to use as kids.
that you're taught to use as kids.
142
356468
2862
06:11
You learn the number list
and you learn how to apply it.
and you learn how to apply it.
143
359354
3051
Aprendestes a lista de números
e aprendestes como aplicala.
e aprendestes como aplicala.
Un truquiño lingüístico.
06:14
A little linguistic trick.
144
362787
1446
06:16
Well, some languages don't do this,
145
364804
1677
Algunhas linguas non fan isto,
algunhas linguas non teñen
palabras para os números.
palabras para os números.
06:18
because some languages
don't have exact number words.
don't have exact number words.
146
366505
3149
06:22
They're languages that don't have
a word like "seven"
a word like "seven"
147
370039
2897
Hai linguas que non teñen
unha palabra como "sete"
unha palabra como "sete"
ou unha palabra como "oito".
06:24
or a word like "eight."
148
372960
1401
06:27
In fact, people who speak
these languages don't count,
these languages don't count,
149
375033
2658
De feito, os falantes
destas linguas non contan,
destas linguas non contan,
06:29
and they have trouble
keeping track of exact quantities.
keeping track of exact quantities.
150
377715
2997
e teñen problemas para
manexar cantidades exactas.
manexar cantidades exactas.
06:32
So, for example, if I ask you
to match this number of penguins
to match this number of penguins
151
380736
3929
Por exemplo, se vos pido
que fagades coincidir os pingüíns
que fagades coincidir os pingüíns
06:36
to the same number of ducks,
152
384689
2264
co mesmo número de patos,
06:38
you would be able to do that by counting.
153
386977
2144
poderiades facelo contando.
06:41
But folks who don't have
that linguistic trait can't do that.
that linguistic trait can't do that.
154
389145
3855
Pero a xente que non ten
ese truquiño lingüístico non pode.
ese truquiño lingüístico non pode.
06:47
Languages also differ in how
they divide up the color spectrum --
they divide up the color spectrum --
155
395653
3154
As linguas tamén difiren en como
dividen o espectro das cores,
dividen o espectro das cores,
o mundo visual.
06:50
the visual world.
156
398831
1150
06:52
Some languages have
lots of words for colors,
lots of words for colors,
157
400348
2152
Algunhas teñen moitas
palabras para as cores,
palabras para as cores,
06:54
some have only a couple words,
"light" and "dark."
"light" and "dark."
158
402524
2364
outras só teñen un par:
"claro" e "escuro".
"claro" e "escuro".
06:56
And languages differ in where they put
boundaries between colors.
boundaries between colors.
159
404912
3623
E hai linguas que difiren en onde
poñen os límites entre cores.
poñen os límites entre cores.
Por exemplo, en inglés
hai unha palabra para o azul
hai unha palabra para o azul
07:00
So, for example, in English,
there's a world for blue
there's a world for blue
160
408559
3215
07:03
that covers all of the colors
that you can see on the screen,
that you can see on the screen,
161
411798
3135
que cobre todas as cores
que vedes na pantalla,
que vedes na pantalla,
07:06
but in Russian, there isn't a single word.
162
414957
2006
pero en ruso, non hai unha soa palabra.
Os falantes de ruso teñen que diferenciar
07:08
Instead, Russian speakers
have to differentiate
have to differentiate
163
416987
2206
entre azul claro, "goluboy",
07:11
between light blue, "goluboy,"
164
419217
1471
e azul escuro "siniy".
07:12
and dark blue, "siniy."
165
420712
1576
07:15
So Russians have this lifetime
of experience of, in language,
of experience of, in language,
166
423138
3983
Os rusos teñen toda unha
vida de experiencia de diferenciar,
vida de experiencia de diferenciar,
07:19
distinguishing these two colors.
167
427145
1869
na lingua, estas dúas cores.
07:21
When we test people's ability
to perceptually discriminate these colors,
to perceptually discriminate these colors,
168
429038
3963
Cando examinamos a capacidade
para diferenciar esas cores,
para diferenciar esas cores,
vemos que os falantes de ruso
son máis rápidos
son máis rápidos
07:25
what we find is that
Russian speakers are faster
Russian speakers are faster
169
433025
2521
07:27
across this linguistic boundary.
170
435570
1558
nesta fronteira lingüística.
07:29
They're faster to be able
to tell the difference
to tell the difference
171
437152
2282
Son máis rápidos ao diferenciar
entre azul claro e escuro.
07:31
between a light and dark blue.
172
439458
1458
07:33
And when you look at people's brains
as they're looking at colors --
as they're looking at colors --
173
441299
3264
E cando vemos o cerebro das persoas
mentres miran cores,
mentres miran cores,
07:36
say you have colors shifting slowly
from light to dark blue --
from light to dark blue --
174
444587
3335
se poñemos cores que cambian
lentamente de azul claro a escuro,
lentamente de azul claro a escuro,
07:40
the brains of people who use
different words for light and dark blue
different words for light and dark blue
175
448798
4452
os cerebros de quen usa palabras
distintas para azul claro e escuro
distintas para azul claro e escuro
mostran unha reacción sorprendente
cando as cores cambian,
cando as cores cambian,
07:45
will give a surprised reaction
as the colors shift from light to dark,
as the colors shift from light to dark,
176
453274
3510
07:48
as if, "Ooh, something
has categorically changed,"
has categorically changed,"
177
456808
3182
algo como "Oh, algo cambiou totalmente",
07:52
whereas the brains
of English speakers, for example,
of English speakers, for example,
178
460014
2446
pero os cerebros de
falantes de inglés, por exemplo,
falantes de inglés, por exemplo,
07:54
that don't make
this categorical distinction,
this categorical distinction,
179
462484
2140
que non fan esa distinción,
non mostran esa sorpresa,
07:56
don't give that surprise,
180
464648
1196
porque nada cambiou totalmente.
07:57
because nothing is categorically changing.
181
465868
2083
As linguas teñen distintas
peculiaridades estruturais.
peculiaridades estruturais.
08:02
Languages have all kinds
of structural quirks.
of structural quirks.
182
470054
2504
08:04
This is one of my favorites.
183
472582
1337
Esta é das miñas favoritas.
08:05
Lots of languages have grammatical gender;
184
473943
2432
Moitas linguas teñen xénero gramatical,
08:08
every noun gets assigned a gender,
often masculine or feminine.
often masculine or feminine.
185
476399
4630
cada nome ten asignado un xénero,
a miúdo masculino ou feminino.
a miúdo masculino ou feminino.
E estes xéneros difiren segundo a lingua.
08:13
And these genders differ across languages.
186
481053
2057
Por exemplo, o sol é feminino
en alemán pero masculino en español,
en alemán pero masculino en español,
08:15
So, for example, the sun is feminine
in German but masculine in Spanish,
in German but masculine in Spanish,
187
483134
4541
08:19
and the moon, the reverse.
188
487699
1348
e a lúa ao revés.
08:21
Could this actually have any
consequence for how people think?
consequence for how people think?
189
489634
3462
Podería ter isto consecuencias
en como pensa a xente?
en como pensa a xente?
08:25
Do German speakers think of the sun
as somehow more female-like,
as somehow more female-like,
190
493120
3994
Os alemáns pensan no sol como
en alguén máis feminino,
en alguén máis feminino,
08:29
and the moon somehow more male-like?
191
497138
1906
e na lúa como máis masculina?
08:31
Actually, it turns out that's the case.
192
499767
1906
Pois resulta que así é.
08:33
So if you ask German and Spanish speakers
to, say, describe a bridge,
to, say, describe a bridge,
193
501697
5423
Se lles preguntades a falantes de alemán
e español que describan unha ponte,
e español que describan unha ponte,
coma esta,
08:39
like the one here --
194
507144
1436
08:40
"bridge" happens to be grammatically
feminine in German,
feminine in German,
195
508604
3349
"ponte" é gramaticalmente feminina
en alemán,
en alemán,
08:43
grammatically masculine in Spanish --
196
511977
2156
e masculina en español,
08:46
German speakers are more likely
to say bridges are "beautiful," "elegant"
to say bridges are "beautiful," "elegant"
197
514157
4318
os falantes de alemán tenden máis a dicir
que as pontes son bonitas, elegantes,
que as pontes son bonitas, elegantes,
08:50
and stereotypically feminine words.
198
518499
2127
palabras topicamente femininas,
08:52
Whereas Spanish speakers
will be more likely to say
will be more likely to say
199
520650
2509
mentres que os de español
tenden máis a dicir
tenden máis a dicir
08:55
they're "strong" or "long,"
200
523183
1546
que son fortes ou longas,
08:56
these masculine words.
201
524753
1386
palabras masculinas.
09:00
(Laughter)
202
528849
1680
(Risos)
09:03
Languages also differ in how
they describe events, right?
they describe events, right?
203
531396
4122
As linguas tamén difiren
en como describen sucesos.
en como describen sucesos.
09:08
You take an event like this, an accident.
204
536060
2346
Collemos un suceso
coma este, un accidente.
coma este, un accidente.
09:10
In English, it's fine to say,
"He broke the vase."
"He broke the vase."
205
538430
2788
En inglés, está ben dicir:
"El rompeu o vaso."
"El rompeu o vaso."
09:13
In a language like Spanish,
206
541869
2544
Nunha lingua como o español,
09:16
you might be more likely
to say, "The vase broke,"
to say, "The vase broke,"
207
544437
2847
probablemente diriades:
"O vaso rompeu."
"O vaso rompeu."
09:19
or, "The vase broke itself."
208
547308
1561
ou "O vaso rompeuse."
09:21
If it's an accident, you wouldn't say
that someone did it.
that someone did it.
209
549332
3222
Se foi un accidente, non dirías
que alguén o causou.
que alguén o causou.
09:24
In English, quite weirdly,
we can even say things like,
we can even say things like,
210
552578
3406
En inglés, é raro,
incluso podemos dicir:
incluso podemos dicir:
09:28
"I broke my arm."
211
556008
1247
"Rompín o meu brazo."
09:29
Now, in lots of languages,
212
557953
1834
En moitas linguas,
09:31
you couldn't use that construction
unless you are a lunatic
unless you are a lunatic
213
559811
3171
non poderiades usar esa construción
a menos que fósedes uns aluados
a menos que fósedes uns aluados
que andan por aí intentando
romper o brazo...
romper o brazo...
09:35
and you went out
looking to break your arm --
looking to break your arm --
214
563006
2129
E o conseguirades.
09:37
(Laughter)
215
565159
1002
09:38
and you succeeded.
216
566185
1151
Se fose un accidente,
usariades unha construción diferente.
usariades unha construción diferente.
09:39
If it was an accident,
you would use a different construction.
you would use a different construction.
217
567360
3264
Isto ten consecuencias.
09:42
Now, this has consequences.
218
570648
1805
09:44
So, people who speak different languages
will pay attention to different things,
will pay attention to different things,
219
572477
4188
A xente que fala linguas diferentes
pon a atención en cousas diferentes
pon a atención en cousas diferentes
09:48
depending on what their language
usually requires them to do.
usually requires them to do.
220
576689
3406
dependendo das necesidades da súa lingua.
Así que lles amosamos o mesmo accidente
a falantes de inglés e de español,
a falantes de inglés e de español,
09:52
So we show the same accident
to English speakers and Spanish speakers,
to English speakers and Spanish speakers,
221
580119
4172
09:56
English speakers will remember who did it,
222
584315
3285
os falantes de inglés
lembrarán quen o fixo,
lembrarán quen o fixo,
10:00
because English requires you
to say, "He did it; he broke the vase."
to say, "He did it; he broke the vase."
223
588525
3414
porque o inglés esixe que digas:
"El o fixo, el rompeu o vaso."
"El o fixo, el rompeu o vaso."
10:03
Whereas Spanish speakers might be
less likely to remember who did it
less likely to remember who did it
224
591963
3203
Mentres que os de español,
tenden menos a lembrar quen o fixo
tenden menos a lembrar quen o fixo
se foi un accidente,
10:07
if it's an accident,
225
595190
1151
pero tenden máis a lembrar
que foi un accidente.
que foi un accidente.
10:08
but they're more likely to remember
that it was an accident.
that it was an accident.
226
596365
2829
10:11
They're more likely
to remember the intention.
to remember the intention.
227
599218
2436
Tenden máis a lembrar a intención.
10:13
So, two people watch the same event,
228
601678
3083
Dúas persoas ven o mesmo suceso,
10:16
witness the same crime,
229
604785
2081
son testemuñas do mesmo delito,
10:18
but end up remembering
different things about that event.
different things about that event.
230
606890
3046
pero lembran cousas diferentes
dese suceso.
dese suceso.
10:22
This has implications, of course,
for eyewitness testimony.
for eyewitness testimony.
231
610564
3259
Isto ten implicacións no caso de
testemuñas oculares.
testemuñas oculares.
Tamén ten implicacións
ao asignar culpas e castigos.
ao asignar culpas e castigos.
10:26
It also has implications
for blame and punishment.
for blame and punishment.
232
614590
2362
Se colledes falantes de inglés
10:28
So if you take English speakers
233
616976
1807
e lles mostro alguén rompendo un vaso,
10:30
and I just show you
someone breaking a vase,
someone breaking a vase,
234
618807
2164
10:32
and I say, "He broke the vase,"
as opposed to "The vase broke,"
as opposed to "The vase broke,"
235
620995
3855
e digo: "El rompeu o vaso"
fronte a "O vaso rompeu",
fronte a "O vaso rompeu",
10:37
even though you can witness it yourself,
236
625504
1913
aínda que o vexan,
poidan ver o vídeo,
10:39
you can watch the video,
237
627441
1268
poidan ver o que se lle fixo ao vaso,
10:40
you can watch the crime against the vase,
238
628733
2162
10:44
you will punish someone more,
239
632157
1767
castigarán máis alguén,
10:45
you will blame someone more
if I just said, "He broke it,"
if I just said, "He broke it,"
240
633948
2853
culparán máis alguén
se digo: "El rompeuno."
se digo: "El rompeuno."
no canto de "Rompeu".
10:48
as opposed to, "It broke."
241
636825
1493
10:50
The language guides
our reasoning about events.
our reasoning about events.
242
638931
3323
A lingua guía o noso razoamento
sobre os sucesos.
sobre os sucesos.
Deivos un par de exemplos
10:55
Now, I've given you a few examples
243
643996
2886
10:58
of how language can profoundly
shape the way we think,
shape the way we think,
244
646906
3727
de como a lingua pode
modelar a forma en que pensamos,
modelar a forma en que pensamos,
e faino de moitas maneiras.
11:02
and it does so in a variety of ways.
245
650657
2175
11:04
So language can have big effects,
246
652856
1931
Así, a lingua pode ter grandes efectos,
11:06
like we saw with space and time,
247
654811
1742
como vimos no espazo e no tempo,
onde a xente pode ordenar
o tempo e o espazo
o tempo e o espazo
11:08
where people can lay out space and time
248
656577
1906
11:10
in completely different
coordinate frames from each other.
coordinate frames from each other.
249
658507
3241
en marcos diferentes completamente
uns doutros.
uns doutros.
A lingua pode ter efectos profundos,
11:14
Language can also have
really deep effects --
really deep effects --
250
662781
2234
é o caso que vimos cos números.
11:17
that's what we saw
with the case of number.
with the case of number.
251
665039
2184
11:19
Having count words in your language,
252
667572
2043
Ter palabras para contar na vosa lingua,
11:21
having number words,
253
669639
1220
ter palabras número,
11:22
opens up the whole world of mathematics.
254
670883
2561
abre o mundo das matemáticas.
11:25
Of course, if you don't count,
you can't do algebra,
you can't do algebra,
255
673468
2503
Claro, se non contades,
non tedes álxebra,
non tedes álxebra,
non podedes facer ningunha das cousas
11:27
you can't do any of the things
256
675995
1564
que cómpren para construír unha sala así
11:29
that would be required
to build a room like this
to build a room like this
257
677583
2743
ou para facer esta emisión, non?
11:32
or make this broadcast, right?
258
680350
2004
11:34
This little trick of number words
gives you a stepping stone
gives you a stepping stone
259
682836
2863
Este truquiño das palabras número
dávos un punto de apoio
dávos un punto de apoio
para un reino cognitivo total.
11:37
into a whole cognitive realm.
260
685723
1481
11:40
Language can also have
really early effects,
really early effects,
261
688420
2295
A lingua tamén ten
efectos temperáns,
efectos temperáns,
11:42
what we saw in the case of color.
262
690739
2870
como vimos no caso da cor.
11:46
These are really simple,
basic, perceptual decisions.
basic, perceptual decisions.
263
694205
2494
Son decisións moi simples, básicas,
de percepción.
de percepción.
Tomamos miles continuamente,
11:48
We make thousands of them all the time,
264
696723
2360
11:51
and yet, language is getting in there
265
699107
1817
e aínda así, a lingua entremétese
11:52
and fussing even with these tiny little
perceptual decisions that we make.
perceptual decisions that we make.
266
700948
4331
e enlea estas pequenas
decisións que tomamos.
decisións que tomamos.
A lingua pode ter efectos moi amplos.
11:58
Language can have really broad effects.
267
706787
1859
O caso do xénero gramatical
pode ser un pouco parvo,
pode ser un pouco parvo,
12:00
So the case of grammatical gender
may be a little silly,
may be a little silly,
268
708670
3228
12:03
but at the same time,
grammatical gender applies to all nouns.
grammatical gender applies to all nouns.
269
711922
3833
pero ao mesmo tempo, o xénero
gramatical aplícase a todos os nomes.
gramatical aplícase a todos os nomes.
12:08
That means language can shape
how you're thinking
how you're thinking
270
716061
2289
Isto significa que a lingua modela
como pensades
como pensades
12:10
about anything that can be
named by a noun.
named by a noun.
271
718374
2887
sobre calquera cousa
que pode recibir un nome.
que pode recibir un nome.
12:14
That's a lot of stuff.
272
722185
1329
Iso é moito.
12:16
And finally, I gave you an example
of how language can shape things
of how language can shape things
273
724449
3257
E finalmente, deivos un exemplo
de como a lingua pode modelar cousas
de como a lingua pode modelar cousas
12:19
that have personal weight to us --
274
727730
1636
que teñen peso persoal para nós,
12:21
ideas like blame and punishment
or eyewitness memory.
or eyewitness memory.
275
729390
2576
ideas como culpa e castigo
ou memoria de testemuñas.
ou memoria de testemuñas.
12:23
These are important things
in our daily lives.
in our daily lives.
276
731990
2164
Son cousas importantes na vida diaria.
12:28
Now, the beauty of linguistic diversity
is that it reveals to us
is that it reveals to us
277
736153
5001
A beleza da diversidade lingüística
está en que nos revela
está en que nos revela
o enxeñosa e flexible
que é a mente humana.
que é a mente humana.
12:33
just how ingenious and how flexible
the human mind is.
the human mind is.
278
741178
3947
A mente humana non inventou
un universo cognitivo, senón 7000,
un universo cognitivo, senón 7000,
12:37
Human minds have invented
not one cognitive universe, but 7,000 --
not one cognitive universe, but 7,000 --
279
745775
4531
12:42
there are 7,000 languages
spoken around the world.
spoken around the world.
280
750330
2358
hai 7000 linguas faladas no mundo.
12:46
And we can create many more --
281
754010
1677
E podemos crear moitas máis,
12:47
languages, of course, are living things,
282
755711
3083
as linguas, claro, son cousas vivas,
12:50
things that we can hone
and change to suit our needs.
and change to suit our needs.
283
758818
3766
cousas que podemos cambiar
para adaptalas ás nosas necesidades.
para adaptalas ás nosas necesidades.
12:55
The tragic thing is that we're losing
so much of this linguistic diversity
so much of this linguistic diversity
284
763786
3483
O tráxico é que estamos perdendo
moita desta diversidade lingüística
moita desta diversidade lingüística
continuamente.
12:59
all the time.
285
767293
1151
13:00
We're losing about one language a week,
286
768468
1892
Estamos perdendo unha lingua por semana,
13:02
and by some estimates,
287
770384
1466
e segundo algunha estimación,
13:03
half of the world's languages
will be gone in the next hundred years.
will be gone in the next hundred years.
288
771874
3267
a metade das linguas do mundo
desaparecerán nos próximos 100 anos.
desaparecerán nos próximos 100 anos.
13:07
And the even worse news is that right now,
289
775966
2822
E o peor é que agora mesmo,
13:10
almost everything we know about
the human mind and human brain
the human mind and human brain
290
778812
3708
case todo o que sabemos
sobre o cerebro e a mente humanas
sobre o cerebro e a mente humanas
baséase en estudos feitos a estudantes
falantes de inglés americano
falantes de inglés americano
13:14
is based on studies of usually American
English-speaking undergraduates
English-speaking undergraduates
291
782544
5028
13:19
at universities.
292
787596
1324
nas universidades.
Iso exclúe a maioría da humanidade, non?
13:22
That excludes almost all humans. Right?
293
790742
3533
Así que o que sabemos da mente humana
é moi restrinxido e parcial,
é moi restrinxido e parcial,
13:26
So what we know about the human mind
is actually incredibly narrow and biased,
is actually incredibly narrow and biased,
294
794299
4971
13:31
and our science has to do better.
295
799294
3236
e a nosa ciencia ten que facelo mellor.
13:37
I want to leave you
with this final thought.
with this final thought.
296
805987
2259
Quero deixarvos con este pensamento final.
13:40
I've told you about how speakers
of different languages think differently,
of different languages think differently,
297
808270
3513
Conteivos como os falantes
de linguas distintas pensan distinto,
de linguas distintas pensan distinto,
pero, claro, iso non se refire
ao que pensa outra xente.
ao que pensa outra xente.
13:43
but of course, that's not about
how people elsewhere think.
how people elsewhere think.
298
811807
3284
13:47
It's about how you think.
299
815115
1419
Tamén ao que pensades vós.
13:48
It's how the language that you speak
shapes the way that you think.
shapes the way that you think.
300
816558
3606
A como a lingua que falades
modela a forma en que pensades.
modela a forma en que pensades.
13:53
And that gives you the opportunity to ask,
301
821070
2576
E iso dávos a oportunidade de preguntar:
13:55
"Why do I think the way that I do?"
302
823670
2071
"Por que penso da forma en que o fago?"
13:57
"How could I think differently?"
303
825765
1596
"Como podería pensar diferente?"
13:59
And also,
304
827908
1365
E tamén,
14:01
"What thoughts do I wish to create?"
305
829297
1727
"Que pensamentos quero crear?"
14:03
Thank you very much.
306
831842
1159
Moitas grazas.
14:05
(Applause)
307
833025
2756
(Aplausos)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lera Boroditsky - Cognitive scientistLera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart.
Why you should listen
Lera Boroditsky is an associate professor of cognitive science at University of California San Diego and editor in chief of Frontiers in Cultural Psychology. She previously served on the faculty at MIT and at Stanford. Her research is on the relationships between mind, world and language (or how humans get so smart).
Boroditsky has been named one of 25 visionaries changing the world by the Utne Reader, and is also a Searle Scholar, a McDonnell scholar, recipient of an NSF Career award and an APA Distinguished Scientist lecturer. She once used the Indonesian exclusive "we" correctly before breakfast and was proud of herself about it all day.
Lera Boroditsky | Speaker | TED.com