TEDWomen 2017
Lera Boroditsky: How language shapes the way we think
Lera Boroditsky: Com l'idioma determina la manera de pensar
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Es parlen uns 7000 idiomes arreu del món. Tots tenen sonoritats, vocabularis i estructures diferents, però donen també forma a la manera com pensem? La científica cognitiva Lera Boroditsky comparteix exemples (com una comunitat aborigen d'Austràlia que fa servir els punts cardinals en comptes d'esquerra/dreta fins als múltiples mots per definir blau de la llengua russa) que suggereixen que la resposta és un sí rotund. "La bellesa de la diversitat lingüística és que ens desvela l'enginy i la flexibilitat que pot tenir la ment humana", diu Boroditsky. "Hem inventat no un sinó 7000 universos cognitius."
Lera Boroditsky - Cognitive scientist
Lera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart. Full bio
Lera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So, I'll be speaking to you
using language ...
using language ...
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Parlaré amb vosaltres
fent servir el llenguatge...
fent servir el llenguatge...
perquè puc.
00:16
because I can.
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00:17
This is one these magical abilities
that we humans have.
that we humans have.
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Aquesta és una de les màgiques habilitats
que tenim els humans.
que tenim els humans.
00:21
We can transmit really complicated
thoughts to one another.
thoughts to one another.
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Podem transmetre pensaments complexos
als altres.
als altres.
00:25
So what I'm doing right now is,
I'm making sounds with my mouth
I'm making sounds with my mouth
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Ara estic creant sons amb la boca
00:29
as I'm exhaling.
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al exhalar.
00:30
I'm making tones and hisses and puffs,
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Emeto tons, xiulets i bufs,
00:32
and those are creating
air vibrations in the air.
air vibrations in the air.
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que creen vibracions en l'aire.
00:35
Those air vibrations are traveling to you,
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Aquestes vibracions en l'aire
viatgen fins a tu,
viatgen fins a tu,
00:38
they're hitting your eardrums,
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colpegen el teu timpà
00:40
and then your brain takes
those vibrations from your eardrums
those vibrations from your eardrums
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i llavors el cervell recull
aquestes vibracions del timpà
aquestes vibracions del timpà
00:44
and transforms them into thoughts.
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i les transforma en pensaments.
Espero.
00:48
I hope.
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00:49
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
00:50
I hope that's happening.
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Espero que sigui així.
00:51
So because of this ability,
we humans are able to transmit our ideas
we humans are able to transmit our ideas
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Degut a aquesta habilitat, som capaços
de transmetre les nostres idees
00:56
across vast reaches of space and time.
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a través de la vastitud
de l'espai i el temps.
de l'espai i el temps.
00:58
We're able to transmit
knowledge across minds.
knowledge across minds.
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Som capaços de transmetre
coneixement entre ments.
coneixement entre ments.
01:03
I can put a bizarre new idea
in your mind right now.
in your mind right now.
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Puc fer-vos pensar ara mateix
en una idea estrambòtica i nova.
en una idea estrambòtica i nova.
01:06
I could say,
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Puc dir,
01:08
"Imagine a jellyfish waltzing in a library
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"Imagineu una medusa ballant un vals
en una biblioteca
en una biblioteca
01:11
while thinking about quantum mechanics."
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mentre pensa en mecànica quàntica".
01:13
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
01:15
Now, if everything has gone
relatively well in your life so far,
relatively well in your life so far,
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Si tot ha anat prou bé a la vostra vida,
01:18
you probably haven't had
that thought before.
that thought before.
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probablement no hi havíeu pensat mai.
01:20
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
01:21
But now I've just made you think it,
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Però ara us hi he fet pensar,
01:23
through language.
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a travès del llenguatge.
01:24
Now of course, there isn't just
one language in the world,
one language in the world,
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Certament no hi ha només un idioma al món,
01:27
there are about 7,000 languages
spoken around the world.
spoken around the world.
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se'n parlen uns 7000.
01:30
And all the languages differ
from one another in all kinds of ways.
from one another in all kinds of ways.
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I es diferencien l'un de l'altre
de mil i una maneres.
de mil i una maneres.
01:33
Some languages have different sounds,
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Alguns idiomes tenen sons diferents,
01:36
they have different vocabularies,
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vocabularis diferents,
01:38
and they also have different structures --
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i també estructures diferents;
01:40
very importantly, different structures.
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molt important, estructures diferents.
01:42
That begs the question:
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Això ens du a la qüestió:
01:44
Does the language we speak
shape the way we think?
shape the way we think?
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Dóna forma l'idioma que parlem
a la manera com pensem?
a la manera com pensem?
01:46
Now, this is an ancient question.
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Aquesta pregunta ve de lluny.
01:48
People have been speculating
about this question forever.
about this question forever.
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Hi hem estat especulant des de sempre.
01:51
Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor, said,
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Carlemany, emperador
de l'Imperi Romà, va dir:
de l'Imperi Romà, va dir:
01:53
"To have a second language
is to have a second soul" --
is to have a second soul" --
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"Tenir una segona llengua
és tenir una segona ànima"
és tenir una segona ànima"
01:56
strong statement
that language crafts reality.
that language crafts reality.
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contundent declaració
de com modela la realitat.
de com modela la realitat.
01:59
But on the other hand,
Shakespeare has Juliet say,
Shakespeare has Juliet say,
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D'altra banda,
Shakespeare fa dir a Julieta
Shakespeare fa dir a Julieta
02:03
"What's in a name?
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"Què val un nom?
Amb un altre nom, la rosa
faria la mateixa dolça olor"
faria la mateixa dolça olor"
02:04
A rose by any other name
would smell as sweet."
would smell as sweet."
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02:07
Well, that suggests that maybe
language doesn't craft reality.
language doesn't craft reality.
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Bé, això suggereix que potser
l'idioma no modela la realitat.
l'idioma no modela la realitat.
02:10
These arguments have gone
back and forth for thousands of years.
back and forth for thousands of years.
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Aquests arguments s'han discutit
des de fa milers d'anys.
des de fa milers d'anys.
02:15
But until recently,
there hasn't been any data
there hasn't been any data
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Però fins fa poc,
no hi havia prou informació
no hi havia prou informació
02:18
to help us decide either way.
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per emetre cap judici.
02:20
Recently, in my lab
and other labs around the world,
and other labs around the world,
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Al meu laboratori i en d'altres
al voltant del món,
al voltant del món,
02:22
we've started doing research,
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hem començat a fer recerca,
02:24
and now we have actual scientific data
to weigh in on this question.
to weigh in on this question.
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i ara tenim evidència científica
per inclinar-nos en aquesta qüestió.
per inclinar-nos en aquesta qüestió.
Deixin-me que els presenti alguns
dels meus exemples preferits.
dels meus exemples preferits.
02:28
So let me tell you about
some of my favorite examples.
some of my favorite examples.
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02:31
I'll start with an example
from an Aboriginal community in Australia
from an Aboriginal community in Australia
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Començaré amb el d'una comunitat
aborigen d'Austràlia amb la qual
aborigen d'Austràlia amb la qual
vaig tenir l'ocasió de treballar.
02:35
that I had the chance to work with.
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Són la gent que parla
Kuuk Thaayorre.
Kuuk Thaayorre.
02:37
These are the Kuuk Thaayorre people.
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02:38
They live in Pormpuraaw
at the very west edge of Cape York.
at the very west edge of Cape York.
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Viuen a Pormpuraaw
al cantó més occidental de Cape York.
al cantó més occidental de Cape York.
02:43
What's cool about Kuuk Thaayorre is,
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El que és interessant del
Kuuk Thaayorre és
Kuuk Thaayorre és
02:45
in Kuuk Thaayorre, they don't use
words like "left" and "right,"
words like "left" and "right,"
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que no tenen "dreta" ni "esquerra",
02:48
and instead, everything
is in cardinal directions:
is in cardinal directions:
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tot s'expressa fent servir
els punts cardinals:
els punts cardinals:
02:51
north, south, east and west.
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nord, sud, est i oest.
02:53
And when I say everything,
I really mean everything.
I really mean everything.
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I quan dic tot, vull dir literalment tot.
02:55
You would say something like,
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Diries: "Tens una formiga
02:57
"Oh, there's an ant
on your southwest leg."
on your southwest leg."
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a la cama sud-oest"
03:01
Or, "Move your cup
to the north-northeast a little bit."
to the north-northeast a little bit."
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O, "Mou una mica la tassa
cap a nord nord-est"
cap a nord nord-est"
03:04
In fact, the way that you say "hello"
in Kuuk Thaayorre is you say,
in Kuuk Thaayorre is you say,
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De fet, la manera de dir "hola" és
03:07
"Which way are you going?"
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"Cap a on vas?"
03:09
And the answer should be,
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I la resposta seria,
03:11
"North-northeast in the far distance.
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"Nord nord-est lluny enllà.
03:12
How about you?"
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I tu?"
03:14
So imagine as you're walking
around your day,
around your day,
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Imagina que quan vas caminant
03:17
every person you greet,
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a cada persona que saludes,
03:18
you have to report your heading direction.
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li has de dir cap a quina direcció vas.
03:20
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
03:22
But that would actually get you
oriented pretty fast, right?
oriented pretty fast, right?
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Això faria que estiguessis orientat
ben ràpid, oi?
ben ràpid, oi?
03:25
Because you literally
couldn't get past "hello,"
couldn't get past "hello,"
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Perquè literalment no podries dir
ni "hola"
ni "hola"
03:28
if you didn't know
which way you were going.
which way you were going.
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si no saps on vas.
03:31
In fact, people who speak languages
like this stay oriented really well.
like this stay oriented really well.
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De fet, la gent que parla idiomes
com aquest s'orienta molt bé.
com aquest s'orienta molt bé.
03:35
They stay oriented better
than we used to think humans could.
than we used to think humans could.
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Millor del que pensàvem que era
possible en humans
possible en humans
Solíem pensar que els humans
èrem pitjors que altres éssers
èrem pitjors que altres éssers
03:38
We used to think that humans
were worse than other creatures
were worse than other creatures
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03:41
because of some biological excuse:
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per alguna excusa biològica:
03:43
"Oh, we don't have magnets
in our beaks or in our scales."
in our beaks or in our scales."
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"Oh, no tenim imans als becs
o a les escates."
o a les escates."
03:46
No; if your language and your culture
trains you to do it,
trains you to do it,
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No; si la teva llengua i cultura
t'entrenen per fer-ho
t'entrenen per fer-ho
03:49
actually, you can do it.
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realment pots fer-ho.
03:51
There are humans around the world
who stay oriented really well.
who stay oriented really well.
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Hi ha persones al món que
s'orienten molt bé.
s'orienten molt bé.
03:54
And just to get us in agreement
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I només per posar-nos d'acord
03:56
about how different this is
from the way we do it,
from the way we do it,
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en com és de diferent de la manera
com ho fem,
com ho fem,
03:58
I want you all to close
your eyes for a second
your eyes for a second
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vull que tothom tanqui els ulls un moment
04:02
and point southeast.
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i senyali el sud-est.
04:04
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
04:05
Keep your eyes closed. Point.
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Manteniu-los tancats.
Senyaleu.
Senyaleu.
04:10
OK, so you can open your eyes.
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Ja els podeu obrir.
04:12
I see you guys pointing there,
there, there, there, there ...
there, there, there, there ...
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Us veig senyalant cap allà,
allà, allà, allà, allà...
allà, allà, allà, allà...
04:16
I don't know which way it is myself --
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Ni jo sé cap on queda.
04:18
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
04:20
You have not been a lot of help.
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I no heu sigut de gaire ajuda.
04:21
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
04:23
So let's just say the accuracy
in this room was not very high.
in this room was not very high.
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Diguem que aquí la precisió
no és gaire alta.
no és gaire alta.
04:26
This is a big difference in cognitive
ability across languages, right?
ability across languages, right?
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Hi ha una gran diferència
d'habilitat cognitiva entre idiomes.
d'habilitat cognitiva entre idiomes.
04:29
Where one group -- very
distinguished group like you guys --
distinguished group like you guys --
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En un grup —un de tan eminent
com vosaltres—
com vosaltres—
04:32
doesn't know which way is which,
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no sabeu la direcció,
04:34
but in another group,
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però en un altre grup,
04:35
I could ask a five-year-old
and they would know.
and they would know.
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podria preguntar a un nen de 5 anys
i ho sabria.
i ho sabria.
04:38
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
04:39
There are also really big differences
in how people think about time.
in how people think about time.
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També hi ha diferències enormes
en com la gent pensa en el temps.
en com la gent pensa en el temps.
04:42
So here I have pictures
of my grandfather at different ages.
of my grandfather at different ages.
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Aquí tinc fotografies del meu avi
a diferents edats.
a diferents edats.
04:46
And if I ask an English speaker
to organize time,
to organize time,
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Si demano a un angloparlant
que les ordeni cronològicament,
que les ordeni cronològicament,
04:49
they might lay it out this way,
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ho farà d'esquerra a dreta.
04:51
from left to right.
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Això té a veure amb
la direcció d'escriptura.
la direcció d'escriptura.
04:52
This has to do with writing direction.
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04:54
If you were a speaker of Hebrew or Arabic,
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Si fossis parlant d'hebreu o àrab,
04:56
you might do it going
in the opposite direction,
in the opposite direction,
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ho faries en la direcció oposada,
04:58
from right to left.
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de dreta a esquerra.
Però i els Kuuk Thaayorre,
05:01
But how would the Kuuk Thaayorre,
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els aborígens que us deia,
com ho farien?
com ho farien?
05:03
this Aboriginal group I just
told you about, do it?
told you about, do it?
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Ells no fan servir paraules
com "esquerra" o "dreta".
com "esquerra" o "dreta".
05:05
They don't use words
like "left" and "right."
like "left" and "right."
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05:07
Let me give you hint.
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Deixeu que us doni una pista.
05:09
When we sat people facing south,
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Quan els asseiem cap al sud,
05:11
they organized time from left to right.
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ordenen el temps d'esquerra a dreta
05:14
When we sat them facing north,
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Quan els asseiem cap al nord,
05:16
they organized time from right to left.
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ordenen el temps de dreta a esquerra.
05:19
When we sat them facing east,
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Quan els asseiem cap a l'est,
05:21
time came towards the body.
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el temps vé cap al cos.
05:23
What's the pattern?
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Quin és el patró?
05:26
East to west, right?
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De l'est a l'oest, oi?
05:27
So for them, time doesn't actually
get locked on the body at all,
get locked on the body at all,
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Així que, per a ells, el temps
no està en absolut vinculat al cos,
no està en absolut vinculat al cos,
05:31
it gets locked on the landscape.
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sinó a l'espai.
05:32
So for me, if I'm facing this way,
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Per mi, si em poso així,
05:34
then time goes this way,
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el temps va cap aquí,
05:35
and if I'm facing this way,
then time goes this way.
then time goes this way.
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però si em poso així,
llavors el temps va cap aquí.
llavors el temps va cap aquí.
05:38
I'm facing this way, time goes this way --
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Si em poso així,
el temps va cap aquí.
el temps va cap aquí.
05:40
very egocentric of me to have
the direction of time chase me around
the direction of time chase me around
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Molt egocèntric per part meva
que la direcció del temps
que la direcció del temps
em segueixi cada cop que em giro.
05:44
every time I turn my body.
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05:46
For the Kuuk Thaayorre,
time is locked on the landscape.
time is locked on the landscape.
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Pels Kuuk Thaayorre,
el temps està vinculat a l'espai.
el temps està vinculat a l'espai.
05:49
It's a dramatically different way
of thinking about time.
of thinking about time.
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És una manera molt diferent
de concebre'l.
de concebre'l.
05:52
Here's another really smart human trick.
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Aquí tenim un altre truc enginyós.
05:54
Suppose I ask you
how many penguins are there.
how many penguins are there.
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Suposem que et pregunto
quants pinguins hi ha.
quants pinguins hi ha.
05:56
Well, I bet I know how you'd solve
that problem if you solved it.
that problem if you solved it.
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Apostaria que sé com resoldries
aquest problema.
aquest problema.
06:00
You went, "One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight."
four, five, six, seven, eight."
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Començaries "Un, dos, tres,
quatre, cinc, sis, set, vuit."
quatre, cinc, sis, set, vuit."
06:02
You counted them.
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Els has contat anomenant-los
06:04
You named each one with a number,
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un per un amb un número,
i l'últim número que has dit
era el número de pingüins.
era el número de pingüins.
06:05
and the last number you said
was the number of penguins.
was the number of penguins.
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06:08
This is a little trick
that you're taught to use as kids.
that you're taught to use as kids.
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Un petit truc que ens han ensenyat
des de petits.
des de petits.
06:11
You learn the number list
and you learn how to apply it.
and you learn how to apply it.
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Aprenem la llista de números
i a aplicar-la.
i a aplicar-la.
06:14
A little linguistic trick.
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Un petit truc lingüístic.
06:16
Well, some languages don't do this,
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Doncs bé, alguns idiomes no ho fan,
06:18
because some languages
don't have exact number words.
don't have exact number words.
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perquè en alguns idiomes
no hi ha paraules pels números exactes.
no hi ha paraules pels números exactes.
06:22
They're languages that don't have
a word like "seven"
a word like "seven"
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No tenen una paraula com "set"
06:24
or a word like "eight."
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o una paraula com "vuit".
06:27
In fact, people who speak
these languages don't count,
these languages don't count,
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De fet, els que parlen aquests idiomes
no conten,
no conten,
06:29
and they have trouble
keeping track of exact quantities.
keeping track of exact quantities.
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i tenen problemes per fer servir
quantitats exactes.
quantitats exactes.
06:32
So, for example, if I ask you
to match this number of penguins
to match this number of penguins
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Així, per exemple, si et demano
que relacionis aquest nombre de pingüins
que relacionis aquest nombre de pingüins
06:36
to the same number of ducks,
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amb el mateix nombre d'ànecs,
06:38
you would be able to do that by counting.
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series capaç de fer-ho contant.
06:41
But folks who don't have
that linguistic trait can't do that.
that linguistic trait can't do that.
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Però la gent que no té
aquest truc lingüistic no poden fer-ho.
aquest truc lingüistic no poden fer-ho.
06:47
Languages also differ in how
they divide up the color spectrum --
they divide up the color spectrum --
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Els idiomes també difereixen
en com dividir l'espectre de colors,
en com dividir l'espectre de colors,
06:50
the visual world.
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el mòn visual.
06:52
Some languages have
lots of words for colors,
lots of words for colors,
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Alguns idiomes tenen molts colors,
06:54
some have only a couple words,
"light" and "dark."
"light" and "dark."
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d'altres un parell de paraules,
"clar" i "fosc"
"clar" i "fosc"
06:56
And languages differ in where they put
boundaries between colors.
boundaries between colors.
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I els idiomes també difereixen en
on posar fronteres entre colors.
on posar fronteres entre colors.
07:00
So, for example, in English,
there's a world for blue
there's a world for blue
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Així, per exemple, en anglès,
hi ha una paraula per a blau
hi ha una paraula per a blau
07:03
that covers all of the colors
that you can see on the screen,
that you can see on the screen,
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que cobreix tots els colors que
es poden veure projectats,
es poden veure projectats,
07:06
but in Russian, there isn't a single word.
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2006
però en rus, no hi ha una sola paraula.
07:08
Instead, Russian speakers
have to differentiate
have to differentiate
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En comptes, els russoparlants diferencien
07:11
between light blue, "goluboy,"
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1471
entre blau clar, "goluboy",
07:12
and dark blue, "siniy."
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i blau fosc, "siniy".
07:15
So Russians have this lifetime
of experience of, in language,
of experience of, in language,
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Així els russos tenen l'experiència
de tota una vida per, lingüísticament
de tota una vida per, lingüísticament
07:19
distinguishing these two colors.
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distingir aquests dos colors.
07:21
When we test people's ability
to perceptually discriminate these colors,
to perceptually discriminate these colors,
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Quan posem a prova les habilitats
per discriminar entre colors
per discriminar entre colors
07:25
what we find is that
Russian speakers are faster
Russian speakers are faster
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resulta que els russoparlants
són més ràpids
són més ràpids
a travessar aquest llindar lingüístic.
07:27
across this linguistic boundary.
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07:29
They're faster to be able
to tell the difference
to tell the difference
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Són més ràpids en diferenciar
entre blau clar i blau fosc.
07:31
between a light and dark blue.
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1458
07:33
And when you look at people's brains
as they're looking at colors --
as they're looking at colors --
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I quan mirem el cervell
dels que estan observant colors
dels que estan observant colors
07:36
say you have colors shifting slowly
from light to dark blue --
from light to dark blue --
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— posem per cas un blau clar
que s'enfosqueix lentament —
que s'enfosqueix lentament —
07:40
the brains of people who use
different words for light and dark blue
different words for light and dark blue
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al cervell dels que fan servir diferents
paraules per blau clar i blau fosc
paraules per blau clar i blau fosc
07:45
will give a surprised reaction
as the colors shift from light to dark,
as the colors shift from light to dark,
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hi haurà una reacció de sorpresa
quan el color passa de clar a fosc,
quan el color passa de clar a fosc,
07:48
as if, "Ooh, something
has categorically changed,"
has categorically changed,"
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com "Oo, alguna cosa
ha canviat de categoria"
ha canviat de categoria"
mentre que al cervell
d'un angloparlant, per exemple,
d'un angloparlant, per exemple,
07:52
whereas the brains
of English speakers, for example,
of English speakers, for example,
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07:54
that don't make
this categorical distinction,
this categorical distinction,
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que no fa aquesta distinció,
no hi ha la mateixa sorpresa,
07:56
don't give that surprise,
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07:57
because nothing is categorically changing.
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perquè res està canviant de categoria.
Els idiomes tenen tot tipus
de peculiaritats estructurals.
de peculiaritats estructurals.
08:02
Languages have all kinds
of structural quirks.
of structural quirks.
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2504
08:04
This is one of my favorites.
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Aquesta és de les meves preferides:
08:05
Lots of languages have grammatical gender;
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molts idiomes tenen gènere gramatical;
08:08
every noun gets assigned a gender,
often masculine or feminine.
often masculine or feminine.
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a cada nom li assignem un gènere,
normalment masculí o femení.
normalment masculí o femení.
08:13
And these genders differ across languages.
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2057
I el gènere canvia d'un idioma a l'altre.
08:15
So, for example, the sun is feminine
in German but masculine in Spanish,
in German but masculine in Spanish,
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4541
Per exemple, el sol és femení en alemany
però masculí en castellà.
però masculí en castellà.
08:19
and the moon, the reverse.
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i la lluna, al revès.
08:21
Could this actually have any
consequence for how people think?
consequence for how people think?
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Podria ser que això tingui conseqüències
en com pensem les persones?
en com pensem les persones?
08:25
Do German speakers think of the sun
as somehow more female-like,
as somehow more female-like,
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3994
Pensen els alemanys en el sol
com una figura més femenina
com una figura més femenina
08:29
and the moon somehow more male-like?
191
497138
1906
i la lluna com més masculina?
08:31
Actually, it turns out that's the case.
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1906
De fet, resulta que és així.
08:33
So if you ask German and Spanish speakers
to, say, describe a bridge,
to, say, describe a bridge,
193
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5423
Si demanes a parlants d'alemany i castellà
que descriguin un pont,
que descriguin un pont,
08:39
like the one here --
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1436
com aquest d'aquí
08:40
"bridge" happens to be grammatically
feminine in German,
feminine in German,
195
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3349
— "pont" resulta ser gramaticalment
femení en alemany
femení en alemany
08:43
grammatically masculine in Spanish --
196
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2156
i masculí en castellà —
08:46
German speakers are more likely
to say bridges are "beautiful," "elegant"
to say bridges are "beautiful," "elegant"
197
514157
4318
els que parlen alemany són més propensos
a considerar els ponts bonics o elegants
a considerar els ponts bonics o elegants
08:50
and stereotypically feminine words.
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2127
paraules estereotípicament femenines.
08:52
Whereas Spanish speakers
will be more likely to say
will be more likely to say
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2509
I els que parlen castellà
són més propensos a dir
són més propensos a dir
08:55
they're "strong" or "long,"
200
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1546
que són sòlids o llargs,
08:56
these masculine words.
201
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1386
paraules masculines.
09:00
(Laughter)
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(Rialles)
09:03
Languages also differ in how
they describe events, right?
they describe events, right?
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Els idiomes també difereixen
en com descriure els fets.
en com descriure els fets.
09:08
You take an event like this, an accident.
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2346
Per exemple, en un accident com aquest,
09:10
In English, it's fine to say,
"He broke the vase."
"He broke the vase."
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2788
en anglès diem "Ell va trencar el gerro".
09:13
In a language like Spanish,
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2544
En un idioma com el castellà
09:16
you might be more likely
to say, "The vase broke,"
to say, "The vase broke,"
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2847
és més comú dir que "es va trencar" o
09:19
or, "The vase broke itself."
208
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1561
"el gerro es va trencar".
09:21
If it's an accident, you wouldn't say
that someone did it.
that someone did it.
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3222
Si és un accident,
no diríeu que algú ho ha fet.
no diríeu que algú ho ha fet.
09:24
In English, quite weirdly,
we can even say things like,
we can even say things like,
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En anglès, estranyament
podem dir coses com:
podem dir coses com:
09:28
"I broke my arm."
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1247
"Vaig trencar el meu braç."
09:29
Now, in lots of languages,
212
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1834
En molts idiomes,
09:31
you couldn't use that construction
unless you are a lunatic
unless you are a lunatic
213
559811
3171
no es fa servir aquesta construcció
a no ser que siguis boig
a no ser que siguis boig
09:35
and you went out
looking to break your arm --
looking to break your arm --
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2129
i et vulguis trencar el braç,
09:37
(Laughter)
215
565159
1002
(Rialles)
09:38
and you succeeded.
216
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1151
i ho hagis aconseguit.
09:39
If it was an accident,
you would use a different construction.
you would use a different construction.
217
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3264
Si és un accident,
fas servir una construcció diferent.
fas servir una construcció diferent.
09:42
Now, this has consequences.
218
570648
1805
Això té conseqüències.
09:44
So, people who speak different languages
will pay attention to different things,
will pay attention to different things,
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4188
Persones que parlen idiomes diferents,
pararan atenció a coses diferents
pararan atenció a coses diferents
09:48
depending on what their language
usually requires them to do.
usually requires them to do.
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depenent del que cada idioma requereixi.
09:52
So we show the same accident
to English speakers and Spanish speakers,
to English speakers and Spanish speakers,
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4172
Per tant, si ensenyem un mateix accident
a angloparlants i castellanoparlants,
a angloparlants i castellanoparlants,
09:56
English speakers will remember who did it,
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584315
3285
els angloparlants recordaran qui l'ha fet,
perquè l'anglès fa necessari dir
"Ell ho va fer; ell va trencar el gerro".
"Ell ho va fer; ell va trencar el gerro".
10:00
because English requires you
to say, "He did it; he broke the vase."
to say, "He did it; he broke the vase."
223
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3414
10:03
Whereas Spanish speakers might be
less likely to remember who did it
less likely to remember who did it
224
591963
3203
Els castellanoparlants potser
no recordaran tant qui ho ha fet
no recordaran tant qui ho ha fet
10:07
if it's an accident,
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1151
si és un accident,
10:08
but they're more likely to remember
that it was an accident.
that it was an accident.
226
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2829
però recordaran més que és un accident.
10:11
They're more likely
to remember the intention.
to remember the intention.
227
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2436
Tenen més tendència
a recordar la intenció.
a recordar la intenció.
10:13
So, two people watch the same event,
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3083
Així doncs, dues persones que veuen
el mateix fet,
el mateix fet,
10:16
witness the same crime,
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2081
i poden ser testimonis d'un mateix crim,
10:18
but end up remembering
different things about that event.
different things about that event.
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3046
acaben recordant el que ha passat
de manera diferent.
de manera diferent.
10:22
This has implications, of course,
for eyewitness testimony.
for eyewitness testimony.
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3259
Això té implicacions pels
testimonis oculars
testimonis oculars
10:26
It also has implications
for blame and punishment.
for blame and punishment.
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2362
i també per a la culpa i el càstig.
10:28
So if you take English speakers
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1807
Si agafes angloparlants
10:30
and I just show you
someone breaking a vase,
someone breaking a vase,
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2164
-i acabes d'ensenyar algú
trencant un gerro-
trencant un gerro-
10:32
and I say, "He broke the vase,"
as opposed to "The vase broke,"
as opposed to "The vase broke,"
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620995
3855
i dic "Ell va trencar el gerro"
en comptes de "El gerro es va trencar",
en comptes de "El gerro es va trencar",
10:37
even though you can witness it yourself,
236
625504
1913
tot i que en sou testimonis,
10:39
you can watch the video,
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1268
podeu veure el vídeo,
10:40
you can watch the crime against the vase,
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2162
i el crim contra el gerro,
vosaltres imposareu un càstig més sever,
10:44
you will punish someone more,
239
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1767
10:45
you will blame someone more
if I just said, "He broke it,"
if I just said, "He broke it,"
240
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2853
i ho condemnareu més si us he dit
"Ell el va trencar"
"Ell el va trencar"
10:48
as opposed to, "It broke."
241
636825
1493
en comptes de "S'ha trencat".
10:50
The language guides
our reasoning about events.
our reasoning about events.
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3323
L'idioma guia el nostre raonament
sobre els fets.
sobre els fets.
10:55
Now, I've given you a few examples
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2886
Us he donat alguns exemples
10:58
of how language can profoundly
shape the way we think,
shape the way we think,
244
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3727
de fins a quin punt l'idioma pot modelar
la manera com pensem
la manera com pensem
11:02
and it does so in a variety of ways.
245
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2175
i ho fa de moltes i diverses maneres.
11:04
So language can have big effects,
246
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1931
L'idioma pot tenir un impacte important,
11:06
like we saw with space and time,
247
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1742
com hem vist amb l'espai i el temps,
11:08
where people can lay out space and time
248
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1906
sobre com els administrem i ordenem
11:10
in completely different
coordinate frames from each other.
coordinate frames from each other.
249
658507
3241
amb marcs de coordenades
absolutament diferents.
absolutament diferents.
11:14
Language can also have
really deep effects --
really deep effects --
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2234
L'idioma pot així també
tenir un efecte profund,
tenir un efecte profund,
11:17
that's what we saw
with the case of number.
with the case of number.
251
665039
2184
com hem vist amb els nombres.
11:19
Having count words in your language,
252
667572
2043
Tenir mots per comptar en el teu idioma
11:21
having number words,
253
669639
1220
i paraules pels nombres
11:22
opens up the whole world of mathematics.
254
670883
2561
ens dona accés a tot
un món de matemàtiques.
un món de matemàtiques.
11:25
Of course, if you don't count,
you can't do algebra,
you can't do algebra,
255
673468
2503
Obviament, si no comptes,
no pots fer àlgebra,
no pots fer àlgebra,
11:27
you can't do any of the things
256
675995
1564
ni pots fer tot allò
11:29
that would be required
to build a room like this
to build a room like this
257
677583
2743
que seria necessari per construir
un espai com aquest
un espai com aquest
11:32
or make this broadcast, right?
258
680350
2004
o fer aquesta transmissió, ¿oi?
11:34
This little trick of number words
gives you a stepping stone
gives you a stepping stone
259
682836
2863
Tenir mots per als nombres
representa el primer esglaó
representa el primer esglaó
11:37
into a whole cognitive realm.
260
685723
1481
a tot un nou reialme cognitiu.
11:40
Language can also have
really early effects,
really early effects,
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2295
L'idioma també pot tenir efectes precoços,
11:42
what we saw in the case of color.
262
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2870
com hem vist amb el color:
11:46
These are really simple,
basic, perceptual decisions.
basic, perceptual decisions.
263
694205
2494
decisions perceptuals,
simples i bàsiques.
simples i bàsiques.
11:48
We make thousands of them all the time,
264
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2360
En fem milers alhora
11:51
and yet, language is getting in there
265
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1817
i, tot i així, l'idioma hi intervé
11:52
and fussing even with these tiny little
perceptual decisions that we make.
perceptual decisions that we make.
266
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4331
i influeix en aquestes petites decisions
perceptuals que prenem,
perceptuals que prenem,
11:58
Language can have really broad effects.
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1859
L'idioma pot tenir efectes molt amplis.
12:00
So the case of grammatical gender
may be a little silly,
may be a little silly,
268
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3228
El cas del gènere gramatical
pot ser absurd
pot ser absurd
12:03
but at the same time,
grammatical gender applies to all nouns.
grammatical gender applies to all nouns.
269
711922
3833
però també és quelcom
que s'aplica a tots els substantius.
que s'aplica a tots els substantius.
12:08
That means language can shape
how you're thinking
how you're thinking
270
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2289
Això significa que l'idioma pot
modelar com penses
modelar com penses
12:10
about anything that can be
named by a noun.
named by a noun.
271
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2887
sobre qualsevol cosa que pugui
ser anomenada.
ser anomenada.
12:14
That's a lot of stuff.
272
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1329
I en són un munt.
12:16
And finally, I gave you an example
of how language can shape things
of how language can shape things
273
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3257
Per últim, us he donat un exemple de
com l'idioma pot modelar coses
com l'idioma pot modelar coses
12:19
that have personal weight to us --
274
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1636
amb una càrrega emocional
12:21
ideas like blame and punishment
or eyewitness memory.
or eyewitness memory.
275
729390
2576
com la culpa, el càstig,
o el record d'un testimoni.
o el record d'un testimoni.
Són aspectes importants en
la nostra vida quotidiana.
la nostra vida quotidiana.
12:23
These are important things
in our daily lives.
in our daily lives.
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731990
2164
La bellesa de la diversitat lingüística és
12:28
Now, the beauty of linguistic diversity
is that it reveals to us
is that it reveals to us
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5001
que ens desvela l'enginy i la flexibilitat
12:33
just how ingenious and how flexible
the human mind is.
the human mind is.
278
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3947
que pot tenir la ment humana.
12:37
Human minds have invented
not one cognitive universe, but 7,000 --
not one cognitive universe, but 7,000 --
279
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4531
Hem inventat no pas un univers cognitiu,
sinó 7000.
sinó 7000.
12:42
there are 7,000 languages
spoken around the world.
spoken around the world.
280
750330
2358
Es parlen 7000 idiomes
arreu del món.
arreu del món.
12:46
And we can create many more --
281
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1677
I en podem crear molts més.
12:47
languages, of course, are living things,
282
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3083
Els idiomes són entitats vives,
12:50
things that we can hone
and change to suit our needs.
and change to suit our needs.
283
758818
3766
que podem polir i adaptar
a les nostres necessitats.
a les nostres necessitats.
12:55
The tragic thing is that we're losing
so much of this linguistic diversity
so much of this linguistic diversity
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3483
La tragèdia és que estiguem perdent
tanta d'aquesta diversitat lingüística
12:59
all the time.
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1151
constantment.
13:00
We're losing about one language a week,
286
768468
1892
Es perd prop d'un idioma a la setmana,
13:02
and by some estimates,
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1466
i segons algunes estimacions,
13:03
half of the world's languages
will be gone in the next hundred years.
will be gone in the next hundred years.
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3267
la meitat dels idiomes del món
desapareixeran en els pròxims 100 anys.
Encara pitjor és que ara mateix
13:07
And the even worse news is that right now,
289
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2822
13:10
almost everything we know about
the human mind and human brain
the human mind and human brain
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gairebé tot el que coneixem de
la ment humana i el cervell
la ment humana i el cervell
13:14
is based on studies of usually American
English-speaking undergraduates
English-speaking undergraduates
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està basat en l'estudi
d'universitaris americans i angloparlants.
13:19
at universities.
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13:22
That excludes almost all humans. Right?
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Això exclou a gairebé tots
els éssers humans, ¿oi?
els éssers humans, ¿oi?
13:26
So what we know about the human mind
is actually incredibly narrow and biased,
is actually incredibly narrow and biased,
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El que se sap de la ment humana
és poc i subjectiu.
és poc i subjectiu.
13:31
and our science has to do better.
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i la nostra ciència ho ha de fer millor.
13:37
I want to leave you
with this final thought.
with this final thought.
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I us vull deixar amb aquesta darrera idea.
Hem vist que al parlar idiomes diferents
13:40
I've told you about how speakers
of different languages think differently,
of different languages think differently,
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pensem de manera diferent.
Però no es tracta
de com pensen els altres,
de com pensen els altres,
13:43
but of course, that's not about
how people elsewhere think.
how people elsewhere think.
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13:47
It's about how you think.
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es tracta de com pensem nosaltres.
13:48
It's how the language that you speak
shapes the way that you think.
shapes the way that you think.
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Es tracta de com el nostre propi idioma
modela la manera com pensem.
modela la manera com pensem.
13:53
And that gives you the opportunity to ask,
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I com això dóna peu a preguntar-nos:
13:55
"Why do I think the way that I do?"
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"Per què penso com penso?"
13:57
"How could I think differently?"
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"Com podria pensar diferent?"
13:59
And also,
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I també:
14:01
"What thoughts do I wish to create?"
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"Quins pensaments vull crear?"
14:03
Thank you very much.
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Moltíssimes gràcies.
14:05
(Applause)
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(Aplaudiments)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lera Boroditsky - Cognitive scientistLera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart.
Why you should listen
Lera Boroditsky is an associate professor of cognitive science at University of California San Diego and editor in chief of Frontiers in Cultural Psychology. She previously served on the faculty at MIT and at Stanford. Her research is on the relationships between mind, world and language (or how humans get so smart).
Boroditsky has been named one of 25 visionaries changing the world by the Utne Reader, and is also a Searle Scholar, a McDonnell scholar, recipient of an NSF Career award and an APA Distinguished Scientist lecturer. She once used the Indonesian exclusive "we" correctly before breakfast and was proud of herself about it all day.
Lera Boroditsky | Speaker | TED.com