Knowledge & Language
Does the extent of our language
=
the extent of our knowledge?
George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four
It comes from a conversation that Winston has with Syme, who is writing a new dictionary, although perhaps it is better to say editing the old dictionary by cutting away ‘superfluous’ words, and amalgamating others that mean the same. Syme explains the rationale of this to Winston:
Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed, will be expressed by exactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten. Already, in the Eleventh Edition, we’re not far from that point. But the process will still be continuing long after you and I are dead. Every year fewer and fewer words, and the range of consciousness always a little smaller. Even now, of course, there’s no reason or excuse for committing thoughtcrime. It’s merely a question of self-discipline, reality-control. But in the end there won’t be any need even for that. The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect. Newspeak is Ingsoc and Ingsoc is Newspeak,’ he added with a sort of mystical satisfaction. ‘Has it ever occurred to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?
The thinking here is clear: if we don’t have words for a concept or thing, then we cannot conceive of a concept or thing. It is one of the key knowledge issues inherent to language, and needs thinking about in some detail.
Michael Stevens, of Vsauce, looks at why some words are considered ‘bad’. Is there something inherently ‘bad’ about certain words? Does society determine what constitutes a good and bad word? What is more important in determining a swear word – its denotation, or its connotation? He also looks at the evolution of swear words, and what this tells us about the development of society. Key quote:
Bad words are the precipitate of a larger reaction, the process of us slowly becoming what we want to become.
Do speakers of different languages think differently? Does learning new languages change the way you think? Do bilinguals think differently when speaking different languages? Does language shape our thinking only when we're speaking or does it shape our attentional and cognitive patterns more broadly?
Are Toxic Political Conversations Changing How We Feel about Objective Truth?
7 Ideas to Reduce Political Polarization. And Save America from ItselF
Talking politics: The surprising consequences of innocent conversation
More Now Say It’s ‘Stressful’ to Discuss Politics With People They Disagree With
Language Culminating Question:
Does Language expand our knowledge of the world or does it limit our understanding?
Possible essay questions related to language as a way of knowing:
“A map is only useful if it simplifies things.” To what extent does this apply to knowledge? (Specimen 2015) [signifier/signified, language as a tool to map one's world/reality].
“The possession of knowledge confers privilege.” To what extent is this an accurate claim? (Specimen 2015)
There is no such thing as a neutral question. Evaluate this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge. (May 2015)
“There are only two ways in which humankind can produce knowledge: through passive observation or through active experiment.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (May 2015)
“No knowledge can be produced by a single way of knowing.” Discuss. (November 2015)
"The knower's perspective is essential in the pursuit of knowledge." To what extent do you agree? (May 2016)
To what extent do the concepts that we use shape the conclusions that we reach? (May 2016)
“Ways of knowing operate differently in personal and shared knowledge.” Assess this claim. (November 2016)
“Metaphor makes no contribution to knowledge but is essential for understanding.” Evaluate this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge. (November 2016)