Anatomy of a Body Paragraph – Project 1

Topic Sentence/Transition sentence

General
Language has the function of thinking, because language is a tool of thinking and
communication, and it is closely related to thinking.

Specific

Quote # 1
Just like what Lera Boroditsky said, “language can shape how you're thinking about
anything that can be named by a noun(11:31)” by using an example of name of “blue.”

Interpret quotation -relate to your point

There are all kinds of blue, we divide it into light or dark, but usually we just call it blue. But
in Russian, they divide it by “goluboy (light blue)” and “siniy (dark blue)”. Therefore,
Russian has better at color sensitivity than American. For me, as a Chinese International
student who studied abroad, I am deeply aware of the gap that can arise when two languages
describe the same thing.

Transition
For example, when I wants to say "gruesome", in Chinese we call it “触目惊心”, which
means when I see this thing, and I shocked from the heart, “触”means touch, our sight touch
the things, “目” means eyes, “惊”means be shocked, and “心” means heart. Usually we
use it to describe a situation as serious and sensational. Chinese characters are characterized
by pictographs, and each character is a complete monolithic. This not only can pass the
surface to understand the meaning of Chinese characters, give a person with strong intuitive
stimulation, and understand, grasp the overall, this is the natural pay attention to the
intuition, pay attention to the overall grasp of an expression of the Chinese nation's
traditional way of thinking, and it in turn have significant impact on this way of thinking.

Quote #2
Boroditsky also claims that “language can shape things that have personal weight to us --
ideas like blame and punishment or eyewitness memory. These are important things in our
daily lives.(12:07)” She gives an example: In the picture, a man accidentally knocks down
another vase while taking a picture of another vase. Boroditsky compares the differences
between English and Spanish. In English, people will say, "The man broke the vase." And in
Spanish, people will say: "The vase was broken."

Interpret quotation – relate to your point

 Back to the term of symbol, as a Chinese studying in the United States, I am like a
contradiction: I have a strong desire to express my own thoughts, but I also have a "Chinese"
introversion that does not want to embarrass others. Therefore, my symbol is a diary. Taking
a diary with me is a habit I have developed since junior high school. No matter what the
purpose is, traveling or studying abroad, I always take my diary with me. Sometimes, even if
I take it out and don't write it, it will make me feel at ease when it stays with me.

Concluding Statement
In the process of thought, science and society, language, in a sense, is the soul of a nation,
shaping the character of a nation, and actively promote or hinder the development of the
nation, also makes each people presented the special style of its own, among the nations of the
world colorful.