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> Sapri-Whorf Hypothesis [sic] ... if the hypothesis stands I don't think it does still stand, does it? For an interesting, not-overly-academic look at Sapir-

> Sapri-Whorf Hypothesis [sic] ... if the hypothesis stands I don't think it does still stand, does it? For an interesting, not-overly-academic look at Sapir-Whorf, I recommend http://www.amazon.co.uk/Through-Language-Glass-Different-Languages/dp/0099505576 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Through-Language-Glass-Different-Lan...

mtrimpe 13y ago
Language has even been found to influence color perception [1] so in one form or another it most certainly still stands, [1] http://boingboing.net/2011/08/12/how-language-affects-color-perception.html http://boingboing.net/2011/08/12/how-language-affects-color-...
- waterlion 13y ago
  The book covered that in quite some detail, but I can't remember the specifics. Certainly, there are links between colour perception and language. As I recall (I could be wrong), the author's conclusion is that the ability of someone to think something or understand a concept isn't limited by language. The author of this paper seems to suggest that the means by which we express computer programs have some link to human behaviour (causation in either/both directions). Human behvaiour does, of course, have a massive influence of language. And I think a lot of the natural-language-redefinition and re-framing of concepts by interest groups to achieve their aims have certainly had an effect on society. But I don't think Sapir Whorf is pertinent here. Unless people are learning about the world by reading computer programs. Also, we've had half a century to express programs in all kinds of forms (LISP vs Java vs Prolog spring to mind). I'm not dismissing the potential effect that the gender imbalance has had, or the possibility of future achievements in computer science. I suppose I'll wait and see, firstly if this is a serious and credible paper, and secondly if anything comes out of it. But I don't think it will.
azernik 13y ago
Only in very weak formulations - things like language increasing the latency (not in the computer science sense) of specific concepts, or changing the likelihoods with which certain features of an event can be recalled.

mtrimpe 13y ago

Language has even been found to influence color perception [1] so in one form or another it most certainly still stands, [1] http://boingboing.net/2011/08/12/how-language-affects-color-perception.html http://boingboing.net/2011/08/12/how-language-affects-color-...

waterlion 13y ago
The book covered that in quite some detail, but I can't remember the specifics. Certainly, there are links between colour perception and language. As I recall (I could be wrong), the author's conclusion is that the ability of someone to think something or understand a concept isn't limited by language. The author of this paper seems to suggest that the means by which we express computer programs have some link to human behaviour (causation in either/both directions). Human behvaiour does, of course, have a massive influence of language. And I think a lot of the natural-language-redefinition and re-framing of concepts by interest groups to achieve their aims have certainly had an effect on society. But I don't think Sapir Whorf is pertinent here. Unless people are learning about the world by reading computer programs. Also, we've had half a century to express programs in all kinds of forms (LISP vs Java vs Prolog spring to mind). I'm not dismissing the potential effect that the gender imbalance has had, or the possibility of future achievements in computer science. I suppose I'll wait and see, firstly if this is a serious and credible paper, and secondly if anything comes out of it. But I don't think it will.

azernik 13y ago

Only in very weak formulations - things like language increasing the latency (not in the computer science sense) of specific concepts, or changing the likelihoods with which certain features of an event can be recalled.