4 ms·

When I learned about the cardinal language folks a few years ago I thought it was so cool that I’ve tried to always keep in mind which way is north ever since.

by kris-s 6y ago

When I learned about the cardinal language folks a few years ago I thought it was so cool that I’ve tried to always keep in mind which way is north ever since. Whenever I learn enough of a new language to speak sentences I feel as though the person speaking isn’t quite “me” but rather a remix of me. We all have facets and speaking a different language brings that out.

estaseuropano 6y ago
Just to flag that these are not necessarily consensus analysis, I can't speak for the details but there were linguistic papers discussing that these people actually use different directions - cardinal when outside, but simple relational inside. So they are not necessarily all day aware of every direction (which in any case is easier when you live in a small hut and normally are in areas you know well).
el-salvador 6y ago
I never worry much about cardinal points when I'm home. But then I spent some months in two countries in which the addressing system does not use street names or house numbers but points of references and cardinal directions [1]. After about a month there, keeping track of the cardinal points became second nature because it was a necessary part of functioning in those countries. Since directions in conversations usually are "Just walk two blocks then one East" However when I'm home, I stop keeping track where the North is, because it is not that necessary. And while we also speak Spanish in my country, we tell directions in a different way, using words like "Turn right, the left, downhill, uphill. [1] Addresses in Nicaragua and Costa Rica are very unusual for the rest of the world. For example "From the Cowboy's Sour Milk, Two Blocks West, Right hand" is a completely valid address in Managua.
BrandoElFollito 6y ago
I discovered this in the US. It was either N Main Street, or within a building (west corner). I traveled extensively to the US for 15 years but never managed to subconsciously keep track of the cardinal directions.

by kris-s 6y ago

estaseuropano 6y ago

Just to flag that these are not necessarily consensus analysis, I can't speak for the details but there were linguistic papers discussing that these people actually use different directions - cardinal when outside, but simple relational inside. So they are not necessarily all day aware of every direction (which in any case is easier when you live in a small hut and normally are in areas you know well).

el-salvador 6y ago

I never worry much about cardinal points when I'm home. But then I spent some months in two countries in which the addressing system does not use street names or house numbers but points of references and cardinal directions [1]. After about a month there, keeping track of the cardinal points became second nature because it was a necessary part of functioning in those countries. Since directions in conversations usually are "Just walk two blocks then one East" However when I'm home, I stop keeping track where the North is, because it is not that necessary. And while we also speak Spanish in my country, we tell directions in a different way, using words like "Turn right, the left, downhill, uphill. [1] Addresses in Nicaragua and Costa Rica are very unusual for the rest of the world. For example "From the Cowboy's Sour Milk, Two Blocks West, Right hand" is a completely valid address in Managua.

BrandoElFollito 6y ago

I discovered this in the US. It was either N Main Street, or within a building (west corner). I traveled extensively to the US for 15 years but never managed to subconsciously keep track of the cardinal directions.