1. Language and Linguistic Relativity: The Power of Words C. D. Schallhorn

2. Language “The limits of your language mean the limits of your world.” –Ludwig Wittgenstein “The limits of your language mean the limits of your world.” –Ludwig Wittgenstein

3. How Do Language and Thinking Interact? Grammar Vocabulary Oxymorons Euphemisms Language as a Cognitive Map Grammar Vocabulary Oxymorons Euphemisms Language as a Cognitive Map

4. Grammar Romance Languages  Formal/Informal (tu/usted) (tu/vous)  Masculine and Feminine Forms of Nouns  In French, “victim” is feminine  Professions are masculine Romance Languages  Formal/Informal (tu/usted) (tu/vous)  Masculine and Feminine Forms of Nouns  In French, “victim” is feminine  Professions are masculine

5. More Grammar Spanish –Single is “el” and “la” –Plural is “los” regardless of male- female ratio e.g. one male and 1000 females=“los” Same with French Spanish –Single is “el” and “la” –Plural is “los” regardless of male- female ratio e.g. one male and 1000 females=“los” Same with French

6. Vocabulary The Inuit (aka Eskimos) –20+ words for snow Fiji Islanders –No words for snow –Many words for coconuts The Inuit (aka Eskimos) –20+ words for snow Fiji Islanders –No words for snow –Many words for coconuts

7. More Vocabulary Arabic (not using adjectives, but different words) –700 words to describe camels—height, weight, age, color, smell, etc. –Side note—in German, but not English  schadenfreude Arabic (not using adjectives, but different words) –700 words to describe camels—height, weight, age, color, smell, etc. –Side note—in German, but not English  schadenfreude

8. More Vocabulary Hawaiians –25-30 different words for tides and waves –Surfers-glassy, macking, etc. Wauroni (S. American tribal people) –No word for “work” New Guinea tribal groups –No words for “war” Hawaiians –25-30 different words for tides and waves –Surfers-glassy, macking, etc. Wauroni (S. American tribal people) –No word for “work” New Guinea tribal groups –No words for “war”

9. More Vocabulary Hopi Indians –A single noun to refer to all flying things and beings (except for birds) –Insects=planes=aviators=superman ( übermeisch-in German) Hopi Indians –A single noun to refer to all flying things and beings (except for birds) –Insects=planes=aviators=superman ( übermeisch-in German)

10. More Vocabulary Americans and their love of cars –Types of non-commercial vehicles/transportation –e.g. sedan, convertible, 4WD, hatchback, notchback, truck, pickup truck, SUV, mini- SUV, mini-van, Hummer, single and double-cab pickup, etc. Americans and their love of cars –Types of non-commercial vehicles/transportation –e.g. sedan, convertible, 4WD, hatchback, notchback, truck, pickup truck, SUV, mini- SUV, mini-van, Hummer, single and double-cab pickup, etc.

11. More Vocabulary Epithets—slang terms for people/groups we do not like –Notice trends with this—we tend to associate them with other things we do not like. e.g. epithets for males are female-based, e.g. ”gurly-man” Epithets—slang terms for people/groups we do not like –Notice trends with this—we tend to associate them with other things we do not like. e.g. epithets for males are female-based, e.g. ”gurly-man”

12. Puns Click here

13. Oxymorons Click Here

14. Euphemistic Language Words that disguise the truth Attempt to alter reality by changing/cleansing the language. Associated with lies and deceit. It takes the life out of life. Words that disguise the truth Attempt to alter reality by changing/cleansing the language. Associated with lies and deceit. It takes the life out of life.

15. Euphemism Example WWI—when a soldier’s body could no longer take the stresses of war and it shut down, it was called “SHELL SHOCK” WWI—when a soldier’s body could no longer take the stresses of war and it shut down, it was called “SHELL SHOCK”

16. In WWII, it was renamed to: “BATTLE FATIGUE” In the Korean War, they called it: “OPERATIONAL EXHAUSTION” In WWII, it was renamed to: “BATTLE FATIGUE” In the Korean War, they called it: “OPERATIONAL EXHAUSTION”

17. By the end of the Vietnam war, it had been changed to: “POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER” By the end of the Vietnam war, it had been changed to: “POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER”

18. Examples of double-speak Blind = “visually impaired” Deaf = “hearing impaired” CIA kills off a group of people = “depopulate an area” A parachute = “vertical decelerator” Blind = “visually impaired” Deaf = “hearing impaired” CIA kills off a group of people = “depopulate an area” A parachute = “vertical decelerator”

19. More examples Bombing = “air support” A pet = “animal companion” or “household non-human animal” Unemployed = “non-waged” Messy = “organizationally impaired” Bombing = “air support” A pet = “animal companion” or “household non-human animal” Unemployed = “non-waged” Messy = “organizationally impaired”

20. More examples Energetic disassembly = an explosion at a nuclear power plant Used car = “previously owned vehicle” “A television with non-multicolor capability” = a black/white television Energetic disassembly = an explosion at a nuclear power plant Used car = “previously owned vehicle” “A television with non-multicolor capability” = a black/white television

21. Suffice to say that there are many more examples of this disturbing trend.

22. Periphrastics

23. The End