Reflection #5

COMM 211 Reflection 5 Chapter 6 Kelli Green

I found the positions on perception of language in chapter six very interesting. The Nominalist Position states that perception is not shaped by the particular language we speak. This position concludes that we all have the same ideas and thoughts that are just expressed in different languages or channels. The Relativist Position concludes the exact opposite: that the particular language we speak, especially the structure of the language, determine our thought patterns, our perceptions of reality, and ultimately, important cultural components. The Qualified Relativist Position somewhat combines the two already mentioned. This position is a moderate view of the relationship between language and perception, saying they are related but not dependent on each other. According to the Qualified Relativist Position, our culture has instilled language habits in us from the time we first learn to speak that likely shape our orientation to the world and the people and objects we encounter.

Living in a different culture and speaking a different language changed my perception. I do not think that my basic thoughts and ideas changed, however. Speaking a different language makes the speaker think differently and take into account the culture that the language belongs to. Body language, thought universal, can also be translated very differently in different cultures. While a kiss on the cheek was a normal greeting in Peru, many people would consider it an invasion of privacy in other cultures. I believe that the Qualified Relativist Position best explains the relationship between culture and language. The habits that I’ve learned since growing up in the Midwest of the United States affect how I speak and treat people. When I travel to different areas or other countries, my habits do not change even if the language I am speaking does. My interactions with different cultures will affect my perception of the world, but my perception is not entirely dependent on the language I speak.