How do different languages perceive time?

Linguists have discovered that people who speak two languages fluently think about time differently depending on the language context in which they are estimating the duration of events. Language has such a powerful effect, it can influence the way in which we experience time, according to a new study.

How is time represented in language?

In English, we measure time’s quantity as a distance, speaking of a “short day” or a “long week”. But languages like Greek, Spanish and Italian prefer a volume-based representation – they speak of “large time” and a “full day”, as if time exists within a container.

How do English speakers conceptualize time?

English uses the horizontal spatial metaphors to express time (e.g., the good days ahead of us). By estimating the frequency of usage, we found that Chinese speakers actually use the horizontal spatial metaphors more often than the vertical metaphors.

How does language shape your brain?

Studies show that learning a language increases the volume and density of gray matter, the volume of white matter, and brain connectivity. In older language learners, some studies show cognitive benefits beyond languages, such as for working memory.

How the language you speak changes your view of the world?

Speakers of the two languages put different emphasis on actions and their consequences, influencing the way they think about the world, according to a new study. The work also finds that bilinguals may get the best of both worldviews, as their thinking can be more flexible.

Do English and Mandarin speakers think differently about time?

The results demonstrate that English and Mandarin speakers do think about time differently. As predicted by patterns in language, Mandarin speakers are more likely than English speakers to think about time vertically (with earlier time-points above and later time-points below).

How do Mandarin speakers express time?

Mandarin speakers, similar to speakers of most other languages around the world, tend to conceptualize time in terms of space. However, it has been supposed that Mandarin speakers conceptualize time along both horizontal and vertical axes (i.e., along two mental timelines).