The notion that different languages constrain our thinking in different ways is 
the central tenet of the Sapir Whorff Hypothesis, and true so far as it goes.  
But it certainly is not an absolute truth. For one thing, languages change 
especially as a result of folks inventing new ways to think and do things.  And 
then, if Chomsky's and the Vedic views of language are correct (and I think 
they are), then the deeper you go, the less constraint there is from all 
things, including language.  a

cardemaister <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:                               --- In 
FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela Mailander 
 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
 >
 > I hope you guys don't mind my interjecting a couple of thoughts 
 here.  Sapir Whorf doesn't address the emotional reaction we often 
 have on hearing the sound of another language. We find French 
 charming, Dutch funny, and German harsh, for example. 
 >    
 >   Instead, the claim is that different languages constrain our 
 thinking in various ways. 
 
 Yeah, I know that. That's why my "emotional level" was
 emphasized. Should have been more explicit about that.
 
 
     
                               

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