Words as Windows to Thought: The Case of Object Representation

Abstract

Languages differ in how they express thought, leading some researchers to suggest that speakers of different languages perceive objects differently. Other researchers, in contrast, argue that words are windows to thought – reflecting its structure without modifying it. Here, we explore the case study of object representation. Recent studies of Japanese, Chinese, and English indicate that speakers of these languages do not perceive objects differently, despite their grammatical differences. Grammatical structures provide frames for words that can select among meanings without affecting underlying object perception.