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How Language Affects Future Behaviour

Prepared by Haruno Shimazaki

University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies English Language Program Advanced Academic Skills

Prepared for Bill Mboutsiadis

22 June 2016

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Researcher Background• Rikkyo University (St. Paul University) in Tokyo

Undergraduate student (2nd year)

• College of Arts, Department of Letters,

Course in English and American Literature

• Historical Linguistics / Phonology ・ Phonetics

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- Can Language Affect How You Spend Your Money? - The Effect of Language on Economic Behavior

(Chen,2013)

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Research QuestionHow Do Languages Affect

Future Behaviours and thoughts?

・ 5 peer edited articles from Roberts Library・ Video lectures(Chen, 2013)

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AgendaFour

theories

• Keith Chen• Daniel Everett• Sapir Whorf• Noam Chomsky

Theory Relationship

s

• Chen &Everett• Chen & Chomsky• Everett & Chomsky

Discussion• Future discourse• Conventional factors

Conclusion

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Four TheoriesKeith Chen (2013)

Daniel Everett (2005)

Sapir Whorf (1922)

Noam Chomsky (1957)

(Chen,2013 &Everett,2005 &Sapir-Whorf, 1922 & Chomsky, 1957)

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Keith Chen (2013)

・ DistanceHow people feel distances between

2 mechanisms present and future・ Distinguish AbilityCognitive linguistics

“The Effect of Language on Economic Behavior; Evidence from Saving Rates, Health Behaviors, and Retirement Assets”

(Chen, 2013)

Future TenseFTR (Future Time References)Strong-FTRWeak-FTR

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Future

Present Present Future

Strong-FTR Weak-FTRFutureless

1st mechanism“Distance”

(Chen, 2013)

(Chen, 2013)

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RightLeft

CardinalDirections

2nd mechanism“Distinguish ability”

(Chen, 2013)

(Chen, 2013)

Present Future

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Weak-FTR/ Futureless

• Future & Present is equal

• Less distinguish

Future oriented behavior

Save more

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Daniel Everett (2005)Piraha Language

No Number words Effects on Economic Behavior⇒

No Future Tense

Live now

(Everett, 2005)

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Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (1922)

Strong version

LanguageDetermines

thought

Weak version

Only influencethoughts and decisions

(Sapir-Whorf, 1922)

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Chomsky “Universal Grammar”(1957)・ The grammatical ability to connect more than two ideas, which called Recursion, is an innate ability in all human. ・ Recursion shows up in all languages.

For Example;

Alex has a red car.

⇒Alex, [whom you know very well], has a red car.

⇒Alex, [whom you know very well], has a red car

[which is parked there.](Chomsky, 1957)

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Theory Relationships

(Chen,2013 &Everett,2005 &Sapir-Whorf, 1922 & Chomsky, 1957)

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Chen (2013)Weak-FTR do not separate present and future⇒

Weak-FTR tend to cause future oriented behabiour

Everett (2005)Weak-FTR / Futureless language

⇒ do not conceptualize Future

Weak-FTR tend not to lead future oriented behavior

(Chen,2013. & Everett, 2005)

Chen verses Everett

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Chomsky

Chen Everett

Everett versus Chomsky・ Recursion might exist in all people’s mind, but not necessary in the languages.

Chen versus Chomsky・ Chen did not find any reflection of innate cognitive nor early cultural differences, which argued by Chomsky

Challenge

(Chen, 2013. & Everett, 2005. & Chomsky, 1922)

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Discussion1. What is the definition of future discourse

2. Conventional factors

Future tenses Alternative Ways

LanguageOther Factors

[Cultural, Situational factors]

(Bittner, 2005)

?VS

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Conclusion

Business/Economic fields

etc

Language

• Translation• International

communication

Consumer Behaviour

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ReferencesChen, M. K. (2013). The Effect of Language on Economic Behavior: Evidence from Savings Rates, Health Behaviors, and Retirement Assets

Chomsky, N. (1957). Syntactic Structures. Paris: Mouton and Co.

Everett, D. L. (2005). Cultural Constraints on Grammar and Cognition in Piraha ̃Everett. D.L (2005). Current Anthropology Vol. 46, No. 4. Cultural Constraints on Grammar and Cognition in Pirahã: Another Look at the Design Features of Human Language

Bittner, M. (2005) Online update: Temporal, modal, and de se anaphora in polysynthetic discourse. To appear in C. Barker and P. Jacobson, (eds), Direct Compositionality.

Sapir, E. (1922) Language. Harcourt and Brace. New York.

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Thank you

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Comments&

Questions