logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
33m 39s

Ep28 "Does your language shape your thin...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Are there really dozens of words for snow in northern cultures? What did the movie Arrival have to do with language and cognition? Why are Russians better than Americans at distinguishing certain shades of blue? And what does any of this have to do with space, time, gender, and how your language influences your thought? Join Eagleman and his guest, cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky, as they take a deep dive into the intersection of words and understanding.

Up next
Jul 7
Ep111 "Might we be surrounded with undetected minds?" (with Michael Levin)
What is intelligence? If we look hard, can we find it in unexpected places: not just in brains but in all kinds of structures? How should we recognize it? And what does any of this have to do with a bipedal dog born without front legs, or making small new organisms out of single ... Show More
51m 33s
Jun 30
Ep110 "Is consciousness related to quantum physics?" (with Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff)
Can we explain consciousness as emerging from classical neuroscience, or do we require deeper principles? Could quantum physics have something to do with it? Is it possible that consciousness predates biology, and biology evolved to take advantage of it? What are the right ways t ... Show More
47m 42s
Jun 23
Ep85 rebroadcast - "What is a Thought?"
Brains bear thoughts like a peach tree bears peaches. Even for meditators it's almost impossible to stop the firehose of words and images and ideas. But what in the world is a thought, physically? How can you hear a voice in your head when there's no one speaking in the outside w ... Show More
36m 47s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2018
How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky
There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses c ... Show More
14m 17s
Jul 2018
How Language Affects How You Think & The Fascinating Way Emotions Determine Your Success
Not drinking enough water is a big problem. And while being a little dehydrated won’t kill you, dehydration does have a lot of significant and negative effects on your physical and mental wellness. This episode starts with a look at some surprising findings. http://www.shape.com/ ... Show More
46m 40s
Nov 2020
SYSK Choice: How Language Shapes Our Thinking & How Emotions Work
How much water do you drink in a day? Not drinking enough water is a big problem. And while being a little dehydrated won’t kill you, dehydration does have a lot of significant and negative effects on your physical and mental wellness. This episode starts with a look at some surp ... Show More
47m 43s
Apr 2022
How Language Lights Up the Brain
Language allows us to connect with people from around the world. It opens our minds and hearts to new experiences and different ways of life. But learning a new language can be really difficult, so how did we do it as children? And are our adult brains even cut out for learning n ... Show More
27m 8s
Jun 2022
Why can some people speak dozens of languages? with Ev Fedorenko, PhD
For those of us who speak only one language, the idea of learning twenty or thirty sounds impossible. But there are “hyperpolyglots” who have managed this remarkable feat. Evelina Fedorenko, PhD, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discusses what sets polyglots apart an ... Show More
40m 39s
May 2022
What is language actually good for?
Acclaimed Australian linguist Professor Nick Enfield has come to the conclusion that language is good for lawyers, for the purposes of persuasion, but bad for scientists who seek to accurately represent reality. It's a fascinating idea he explores in his new book Language vs Real ... Show More
27m 39s
Sep 2022
Ep 145: Minds
What is a mind? Can we pin it down? To what do the pronouns "I" and "you" really refer? Is the mind different to its contents? What do we know and what are we struggling still to understand? 
7m 9s
Apr 2023
Valerie Fridland: The Amazing and Um, Complex World of Linguistics
Have you ever thought about how language shapes our world? Linguistics expert Valerie Fridland breaks down the complexities of language and reveals how it reflects our identity and culture. Listen to her insights on Remarkable People podcast now.See Privacy Policy at https://art1 ... Show More
1h 33m
Feb 2022
The Invisible Influence of Language — with Lera Boroditsky
One of the oldest technologies we have is language. How do the words we use influence the way we think?The media can talk about immigrants scurrying across the border, versus immigrants crossing the border. Or we might hear about technology platforms censoring us, versus moderati ... Show More
40m 19s