Knowledge and Language

Within this optional theme, you will explore the connection between language and thought,
language and power and the idiosyncrasies of human language in relation to knowledge. You will
explore knowledge questions related to the four main elements (i.e. scope, perspectives, methods
& tools, and ethics) and make connections to the  core theme. Remember that the themes are
primarily assessed through the TOK exhibition.

Warm-up re ection:  So why is "La Trahison des Images" (Magritte's "Ceci n'est pas une pipe"
painting) such brilliant TOK material?

Through his iconic art, painter Magritte lets us explore the relationship between representation
and reality. We can indeed use language and symbols to 'map' reality. Within our language, we
use words as 'signi ers' to denote something else ('the signi ed'). But, all too often we blend the
signi er with the signi ed. According to Charles Sanders Peirce, we end up thinking through
these signs and we forget what is really out there. Baudrillard takes this notion even further with
his conception of 'the hyperreal'. Maps and signi ers (in the broad sense of the word) can be
useful as conceptual, organisational, and practical tools. However, when you think through signs,
accuracy can give way to simpli cation. When we blend the signi er and signi ed, we can also
get a distorted understanding of what is really out there.

Introduction

Language is a medium through which we pass on most knowledge. You could ask yourself how
much you would know if you had no language to gather or express knowledge. Our daily
language is heavily in uenced by the discourse of the most dominant groups in our communities,
even though we may not always be aware of this fact. The language we speak can be used to
pass on knowledge and values that exist within our community, but it also in uences to some
extent how we know.

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 Even though the limitations of the Sapir-Whorf
Hypothesis's linguistic determinism have been
pointed out, new research (eg by Boroditsky,
see below on this page, under the section
"lost in translation") reveals how the language
we speak may shape the way we think. Some
speakers of Aboriginal languages have
excellent orientation skills due to their
linguistic use of absolute cardinal directions,
for example. The Japanese legal system
seems to be structured di erently from the
Anglo-Saxon system, which re ects the
linguistic di erences between the respective
languages' causality structures. 

https://www.ted.com/talks/lera_boroditsky_how_language_shapes_the_way_we_think?
language=en

The connection between language, thought

and knowledge is so profound that it also
leads to a connection between language and
power. This leads to a connection with
another optional theme: Language and
Politics. Through language you can in uence
and shape thought. You may subconsciously
alter the way people speak and think. The
political power of language is apparent in
propaganda, linguistic stereotyping and
through verbal nuances such as euphemisms
versus pejorative language employed by
politicians.

Interestingly, you may not always be aware of

the extent to which your knowledge and
identity have been shaped through language.
Your discourse may oppress people from
di erent communities or advocate certain ideas. 

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 Language and Thought

We use language to make sense of the

world and to pass on knowledge. In a
sense, language can be seen as a
(metaphorical) map we use to
represent what is really out there,
regarding the natural world as such, as
well as more abstract ideas. When we
speak, for example, we utter sounds
that form words and sentences. These
words generally refer to something
else. For example, you can utter the
sound "cat" to refer to a four legged
furry animal. The word "cat" is the
"signi er", the actual animal itself, is
the "signi ed".

The way in which we use language

to refer to something else is called
the "denotational" quality of
language. When we use language,
we often have a generalised,
simpli ed or personalised idea in
mind. When you have a pet cat,
you are probably thinking of your
particular cat, when you say the
word "cat". Likewise, when you
say "tree", or "breakfast" or
"school", you will most likely think
of concepts that you have some
sort of personal experience with. A
breakfast in your part of the world
could, however, be very di erent
from what people eat elsewhere.
This illustrates that the words we
use may mean di erent things for
di erent people.

In addition to these denotational di erences (what language refers to), language can have di erent
connotations. These connotations are additional ideas and associations on top of the literal
meaning. We sometimes have the choice between several words to refer to the same thing. Each
word will express a di erent type of nuance or connotation. The particular word you choose to
talk about something may in uence the connotations that surround the meaning of what you refer
to. In that sense, language is not neutral. For example, if you want to soften the "negative" or
"informal" connotations surrounding the word "to pee", you can use an euphemistic (softer
sounding) expression such as "to go to the bathroom," or "to powder your nose".

For topics that are taboo (such as "sex", "death", "bodily functions"), we often use such
euphemistic expressions.  We can also manipulate how people think about important issues by
playing with connotational language. If you want to play down the associations of violence
associated with war, you can use expressions such as "collateral damage" instead of "bombing a
village", "ethnic cleansing" instead of "genocide", or "inoperative combat personnel" for "dead
soldiers".

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 To in uence opinion surrounding abortion laws, you can use an expression such as "pro life" or
"pro choice". Either expression has clear emotional connotations (as well as intrinsic false
dilemma), although they essentially refer to the same thing. We can use pejorative (very negative)
language to talk about people and things we don't like. We can use sexist and racist language to
reinforce stereotypes.

So why does this matter in TOK? If we rely so heavily on language to

convey ideas and pass on knowledge,  it is important to be aware of the
fact that the connection between language and thought is less
straightforward than may appear at first sight.

Language is an incredibly important tool to pass on knowledge and to communicate thought. We

gather a very large amount of knowledge through language. For example, to acquire knowledge
we read information online, research ndings of others, look through textbooks, or simply listen to
others (like your teachers, for example). We use language to represent ideas, to make sense of the
world, and to talk about what is "out there".

Nevertheless, the language you speak is closely connected to your world experience. If you speak
several languages, you may notice that some languages have words that don't exist in others.
This may be because some ideas are more important in some cultures than others. Perhaps your
environment and your way of life require a certain type of language and certain expressions.
  Anthropologist Wade Davis, for example, suggests that the Barasana people tend not to
distinguish blue from green because, to them, blue and green together form the colour of "the
canopy of the heavens"; an idea closely linked to their world experience. 

However, it is also worth considering how the actual language you speak may shape your
experience of the world  (and in its turn, the way in which you gather knowledge). For example,
through your study of a second language at IBDP, you might have noticed that some languages
have gender, whilst others do not. You may also have noticed that some languages force you to
think carefully about which word to choose to address someone else (eg the French vous versus
tu).

If a language forces you to think about this kind of stu , does that mean its speakers will
"know" (the world) di erently? Cognitive scientist Lera  Boroditsky claims that the latter is partly
the case. She shows in her TED talk and  in her article 'Lost in Translation' that Russian people
tend to distinguish the shades of blue better because they have an extra word for light blue. In
addition, psychologist Elizabeth Loftus claims that our memory of sense perception is also
a ected by language. In short, the connection between language and cognition seems to be more
profound than what was suggested until fairly recently, and the language you speak may shape
your cognition.

Although the language you speak will not necessarily determine what you can think, it is obvious
that language and thought are interconnected. You can probably think of several examples from
your own life where people have tried to manipulate your thoughts through language.  This is
especially the case when people use emotive and persuasive language. In this respect, language
can lead to power. You can use language to shape other people's thoughts and to maintain
certain relationships of authority, The connection between knowledge, language and power can
be explored further within TOK classes.

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