‘The vocabulary we have does more than communicate our knowledge; it shapes what we know’. Vocabulary is defined as ‘the body of words used in a particular language’. It is a useful tool for communication and acquiring knowledge. It is a very important component in language, as in language, is not only used by every single of us to deliver ideas to each other, but is also a way to express ourselves, to define our identities. There are two examples on how vocabulary affects the things we can know: one example is specificity. Specificity in a language can determine an individual’s ability to recognize and differentiate between objects or ideas. By using structuralist principles, our minds do not always see objects and then associate a word with the objects. Rather it is sometimes in reverse. And it is mostly seen in abstract nouns. Abstract nouns (honour or justice) are not something we touch or see. A young child needs to be “taught” the concept of honour; if the word honour is not introduced into the vocabulary, there is no direct input that reveals it. Another example is Masculine and Feminine Associations. Grammatical gender differences in different languages (e.g. French, Spanish), can change the way people think mentally and verbally describe things. An example would be that studies show that people who speak languages with gender differences are more likely grouping unrelated words with similar genders together, and they are also more likely to describe feminine inanimate objects with feminine adjectives. There was an experiment where native English speakers and Berinmo speakers were asked to remember a colour shown on a screen. They were then shown two similar colours and are asked to choose the one that matched the first colour. The Berinmo speakers forgot boue and green colours more often, but they were able to remember the differences between shades of green more easily than those who speak English. The reason for the results is that in Berinmo, there isn’t any language distinction between blue and green. There is a language distinction

The Vocabulary We Have Does More Than Communicate Our Knowledge It Shapes What We Know

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The vocabulary we have does more than communicate our knowledge; it shapes what we know.

Vocabulary is defined as the body of words used in a particular language. It is a useful tool for communication and acquiring knowledge. It is a very important component in language, as in language, is not only used by every single of us to deliver ideas to each other, but is also a way to express ourselves, to define our identities. There are two examples on how vocabulary affects the things we can know: one example is specificity. Specificity in a language can determine an individuals ability to recognize and differentiate between objects or ideas. By using structuralist principles, our minds do not always see objects and then associate a word with the objects. Rather it is sometimes in reverse. And it is mostly seen in abstract nouns. Abstract nouns (honour or justice) are not something we touch or see. A young child needs to be taught the concept of honour; if the word honour is not introduced into the vocabulary, there is no direct input that reveals it. Another example is Masculine and Feminine Associations. Grammatical gender differences in different languages (e.g. French, Spanish), can change the way people think mentally and verbally describe things. An example would be that studies show that people who speak languages with gender differences are more likely grouping unrelated words with similar genders together, and they are also more likely to describe feminine inanimate objects with feminine adjectives. There was an experiment where native English speakers and Berinmo speakers were asked to remember a colour shown on a screen. They were then shown two similar colours and are asked to choose the one that matched the first colour. The Berinmo speakers forgot boue and green colours more often, but they were able to remember the differences between shades of green more easily than those who speak English. The reason for the results is that in Berinmo, there isnt any language distinction between blue and green. There is a language distinction that separates the green into two arbitrary categories (nol and wor). The Berinmo speakers ability to remember and recognize colours is affected by the vocabulary they have to describe these colours. Vocabulary relates strongly to mathematics. In mathematics, there are many terminologies created and used, by mathematicians and people who study mathematics. (For example integer, meaning whole numbers, positive or negative, 0, 1, 2, 3.). The purpose for terminologies in all kinds of studies, give us shorter words but have a clear definition. Vocabularys purpose is to put words to fit in correctly, that it makes sense and it is clear. The vocabulary we have does more than communicate our knowledge; it shapes what we know.

Our professions and our vocabulary are intertwined. The more our world view is shape by our profession, the more specialized or wide our vocabulary becomes. As a result, I agree with the statement: The vocabulary we have does more than communicate our knowledge; it shapes what we know.

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