Language and Beyond

Language reflects the way we think, but it does not necessarily constrain us from thinking in new ways. There is a problem, though, when trying to express a foreign idea in an unsuitable language. Languages evolve quite rapidly, so they are well-suited to express the most commonly held current worldview; implicit assumptions in a language thus make it difficult to formulate a new worldview into words.

This does not mean that new ideas and new worldviews are never formed, of course, for paradigm shift has certainly occurred in the past. Part of the challenge of introducing new ideas is transcending the implicit language barrier of any human culture. Metaphor, simile, and storytelling are excellent vehicles for communicating ideas that are not easily framed in a culturally-dependent language. Conveying ideas via story is more difficult than direct expression, but sometimes direct expression is not possible.