The Language Origin of the Thinking Differences Between Chinese and English
Abstract
Language is not merely a tool for communication; it is intricately intertwined with thinking and culture, perpetually evolving under their profound influence. Linguists widely acknowledge that language acts as a reflection of people’s worldview, unveiling diverse modes of thinking, cultural values, and perspectives. The objective of this paper is to delve into the disparities between the English and Chinese languages, shedding light on how these linguistic characteristics engender four fundamental thinking distinctions: imaginal thinking versus logical thinking, linear thinking versus curved thinking, holistic thinking versus individual thinking, and subjective thinking versus objective thinking. By exploring these disparities, a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between language and cognition can be gained. This exploration helps to comprehend how language not only shapes perception of the world but also influences thought processes and cultural perspectives. This research contributes to the broader field of linguistics and provides valuable insights into cross-cultural communication and understanding.
References
- Le Guoan(1984), A Study on the Relationship between Language and Thinking in Western Psychology .J. Applied Psychology ,2.
- Snith, S. M.,Brown, H. O. (1947), The lack of cerebral effects of d-tubocurarine. J. Anesthesiology.8: 1-14.doi:10.1097/00000542-194701000-00001.
- Anderson, J. R.(1980), Cognitive Psychology and Its Implications. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman. IBSN: 978-1429219488.
- Ji Yuhua, Xu Qichao. (2003). Re-discussing the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis - A Review of Foreign Intercultural Communication Textbooks on Linguistic Relativism .J. Foreign Languages and Literature. 4:60-61. https://core.ac.uk/download/41347589.pdf
- Iannucci, D. E., Dodd, D. H.,(1962) The Development of Some Aspects of Quantifier Negation in Children .J. Stanford Child Language Research Forum. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=pick+AND+rate&pg=3&id=ED196297
- Piaget. The Development of Logical Thinking from Childhood to Adolescence. New York: Basic Books. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/10034-000
- Sinclair, H.,(1976). Developmental Psycholinguistics, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. ISBN-13:978-1475706093
- Zhu Manshu, (1982), Studies on Children’s Language Development. East China Normal University Press. https://books.google.com.tw/books/about/儿童语言发展研究.html?id=IpnSAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y
- Chomsky, (1972), Language and Mind .Enlarged edition. https://books.google.com.tw/books/about/Language_and_Mind.html?id=QvZrAAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y
- Fodor, J.(1987) Why There Still Has to Be a Language of Thought. MA: MIT Press.23-24. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-009-1181-9_2
- Zhang X., (1999) The Differences between Chinese and English Thinking and Their Manifestations in Language .J. Foreign Languages. 6:1-5. http://doi.org/ 10.3968/j.ccc.1923670020090501.006.
- Yuan M., (2010) The Manifestation of English-Chinese Thinking Differences and Their Influence on English-Chinese Translation .J. Journal of Shanghai Business School. 11, 6: 89-92. http://doi.org/ 10.3968/j.hess.1927024020130501.1007.