Driving around aimlessly, I listened to a friend try to explain their theory on instinct. They told me, “We don’t think when we speak, we just do it.” I don’t entirely agree— I hope I’m not the only one thinking before speaking— but there is always an element of reflex in how we speak; we reach for what is nearest to us: familiar words, sentence structures, and concepts.
There is a sort of rhythm and convention to our words. To put this into perspective, think of the way that sentences are structured in English as opposed to other languages. In Spanish, adjectives are found after the noun, making “casa roja” the correct structure in contrast with English’s “red house.” Or take Mandarin, where there are no verb conjugations. Basic structures, even at the fundamental level of the language itself, formulate how we think.
Beyond structure, there are also conceptual differences in global communication, specifically words from other languages that don’t exist in English. These deficits might be as superficial as a word for weight gained from stress eating (German: kummerspeck) or run as deep as ideas and feelings that we don’t verbalize culturally. Consider the longing for somewhere that cannot be returned to (Dutch: hiraeth), the bittersweet awareness that a moment will end (Japanese: aware), and the beauty of imperfection (Japanese: wabi-sabi). English can be manipulated to summarize the meaning, but the translation lacks the cultural connotation and spirit that would otherwise be intrinsically linked with the word.
Having words to validate your thoughts or feelings makes a world of difference. In the dystopian book 1984 by George Orwell, the government strips citizens of their voice and capacity for thought with each edition of its “Newspeak” dictionary. Without the words and ideas to formulate their feelings, the citizens cease to have the means to comprehend and respond to their environment, leading to a loss of independence of thought and individuality.
This concept applies not only to words we lack but also to words we are reduced to. Social media produces trends, including those in language. The rapid development of slang is entertaining, but I open comment section after comment section to only find recycled lines. I deleted TikTok when I noticed myself struggling to think of a response other than “Slay” to anything and everything; I was scared of losing my voice.
I look to others for inspiration. My interest isn’t limited to grandiose word substitutes, like using pulchritudinous instead of beautiful; everyday mannerisms are just as noteworthy. I keep an ongoing record on my phone of words, phrases, and ideas that I like, ranging from March madness terminology (“How’s your bracket?”) to words I stole from reading (ennui), and everything in between.
The way we communicate speaks volumes about who we are. In understanding different mannerisms and seeking to diversify my own, I strive for growth, however subtle.
Hi Grace! I really like your piece, and I too have always found it fascinating how essential language is to our development. Last year, I actually did a project in AP Psychology about language and thinking, and it has been one of the most interesting things I have learned. A lot of what you described is congruent with Whorf’s hypothesis of linguistic deteminisim, which basically states that language controls our thought process and how we interpret the world around us. A fascinating example is the Native American Hopi Tribe, who have no past tense for their verbs. By the standards of Whorf’s hypothesis, this means that they cannot think about the past, because the words simply do not exist. It is crazy to think that our very perceptions of our lives are dictated by the words we have to describe it. I also agree with your statement that the words we choose to express ourselves (our mannerisms) speaks volumes to who we are as people. Everybody has a distinct way of stringing sentences together and communicating, becoming the most basic guidelines in defining who we are. For example, my sister can tell if I am texting her back or if one of my friends is answering for me by a simple “kk” versus an “okk”. Thank you for writing this piece!
Hi Grace!
This post really made me think about how humans utilize language in a way I haven’t fully been able to comprehend before. Although I sometimes think about the varying definitions within languages and how some ideas can’t fully be described or understood through words, I felt very comforted by the way you described how speaking is somewhat dependent on reflex, saying “we reach for what is nearest to us: familiar words, sentence structures, and concepts”. This definition reminds me of how often people start talking about an idea but end up forgetting a word along the way. Although they know which idea they’re trying to get across, it is much more difficult putting it into comprehensible words. The differences in ideas between languages remind me of how people tend to perceive color differently depending on which language they are used to. For example, some languages define dark and light blue as two separate colors, allowing native speakers to be better at identifying the difference between them in comparison to people who only know English labeling these colors as the same. You did an amazing job transforming such a complex idea into an easily accessible, thorough explanation. Great job!