> Sean said: > Our language IS closely linked to how we think. Or actually, the > reverse. > How we think is dictated by language. If you think in Chinese you will > have > a different perspective from one who thinks in English. Mia said: > (God, this is fun!) > > Samuel Delany (I think!) wrote a book called Babel 17--damn good > book--in which the bad guys invented a language that contained no "I". > Without "I", there cannot be "you"; without a concept of "I" and "you" . > . . well, let's just say the poor guy grew up pretty strange. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. Generally out of vogue nowadays (as am I!). The Delany book is circa 1960s, the hypothesis the late 20s. They took it a bit far, stating that language determines thought, whereas today most believe it only influences thought. http://venus.va.com.au/suggestion/sapir.html