“To have a 2nd language is to have a 2nd soul,” said Charlemagne. This week’s expert & polyglot Dr. Josep González highlights that each language serves as a window into a culture. With more windows comes more complexity and sophistication. You can become a more sophisticated thinker by mastering your language skills: avoid thinking in binary pairs; read history; and negotiate with philosophical discourse–recognizing what is fact vs. opinion. Ultimately, “language is the vehicle for authentic democracy.”

SHOWNOTES

Contents

* 3 Key Learnings

* References & Links

* Andrea’s Research & Commentary

* Interview Transcript

* Conclusion

3 Key Learnings

* DEFINITION of LANGUAGE.

Language is a system of signs that we use to communicate.

Language        = Word            + Rules

= meaning       + structure

=(semantics)   + (grammar)

Acquiring a language is like learning to play chess.  You can’t speak the language if you don’t know the words and the rules, just like you can’t play chess if you don’t know the rules.

 

* HOW DOES LANGUAGE MASTERY AFFECT US?

Understanding multiple languages can help us in the marketplace in terms of communication and job opportunities.  But perhaps more importantly, each new language creates a new perception of reality (or layer or context)  that will add to the sophistication of our thinking.

 

* HOW CAN WE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED THINKERS THROUGH LANGUAGE?

* Master your existing language skills

* Learn a new language

* Avoid thinking in simple binary pairs

* Read history

* Be sophisticated, critical thinkers, particularly in discerning opinion versus fact

References & Links

Dr. Josep González & TFS Canada’s International School

* https://www.tfs.ca/page/our-community/head-of-school-welcome

Dr. Steven Pinker

* “The Language Instinct” (https://amzn.to/2VYTlIN)**

* “The Blank Slate” (https://amzn.to/2MgwZxX)

* “The Stuff of Thought” (https://amzn.to/2Mpa1Vv)

Trevor Noah

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Noah

* https://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Shows/TheDailyShow

Hélène Cixous and Death Dealing Binary Combinations

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_opposition

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne_Cixous

* http://homepage.westmont.edu/hoeckley/Readings/Symposium/PDF/201_300/219

Linguistic Relativity and Grammatical Gender

* https://www.ted.com/talks/lera_boroditsky_how_language_shapes_the_way_we_think/transcript?language=en#t-100610

* Boroditsky, L., Schmidt, L., & Phillips, W. (2003). Sex, Syntax, and Semantics. In Language in mind: Advances in the study of language and cognition, ed.