The vocabulary we have does more than communicate our knowledge; it shapes what we can know. Evaluate this claim in relation to WOK Language and one area of knowledge.
An essential aspect of the study of language in relation to theory of knowledge has been the relationship between thoughts and language. While the predominant theory in the past has been that language is a tool for the communication of thoughts, the idea that language can shape thoughts, or linguistic determinism, has gained more and more merit. The role of vocabulary, the set of words in a particular language, as either communicating or shaping knowledge lends itself to many interesting questions. Ultimately, the vocabulary of a language reflects the paradigms of a particular culture, and therefore provide the framework for what can be known in the context of that language.
There are studies that suggest that differing vocabularies have direct results on what can be known. A common example is differing means of navigation. Guugu Yimithirr, an australian aboriginal language, uses cardinal directions (north, east, south, west) to describe objects' spatial relationships with each other. Studies have shown that members of these tribes can perform navigational feats that were previously considered impossible by humans. This shows how the vocabulary of a language has a direct impact on what can be known. Speakers of languages which use egocentric navigations (i.e. left, right of, behind) are simply unable to discern cardinal directions, while speakers of languages which use cardinal directions can perform these feats with ease.
Another instance of vocabulary shaping knowledge can be seen in the vocabulary of the Piraha people, which limit what can be known in the area of knowledge Mathematics. The Piraha people have only three words for numerical values, one and two, beyond which they use "many". Their limited vocabulary of numerical values has been shown to have impact on their ability to process basic mathematics. A study from the University of Miami showed that Piraha people had a lower level of mathematical process than those who spoke languages who had specific words for specific numerical values. The lack of vocabulary shapes what can be known of Mathematics.
In both of these cases, vocabulary provides the framework of what can be known by speakers of that language. The reason for this can be tied to what makes a language, and the importance of conventionality. Jakobson's Communication Functions lists a 'mutual code' as an essential part of language. Since the extent to which something is conventional is predicated on the societal norms and culture, it's natural that vocabulary reflects the paradigms of the culture in which it operates. This can be seen in the Piraha people's lack of words for exact numerical values, and the use of cardinal navigation in aboriginal societies. The paradigms that govern the thoughts of societies are embodied in the vocabulary used, which are therefore used to shape knowledge.
The notion that our thoughts are predicated on existing vocabulary isn't entirely true, which can be seen in the continuously growing Oxford's English Dictionary. In 2015 alone words that reflect the growing culture of social media have been added to reflect the reality the English language is adapting to. Verbs like "to retweet" and "twerking" were added to reflect the shared knowledge of the world that's constantly evolving. This shows that the causality goes in both directions, and what is known also shapes the vocabulary of a language.
The implications of vocabulary on what can be known can be seen in historical examples of language being used to dehumanize demographics. The most powerful example of this is the dehumanization propaganda used by the Nazis in their mass genocide of the Jewish population in Europe. Nazi Germany being saturated with vocabulary pegging the Jewish people as rats, and most famously a problem, made the humanity of the Jewish people out of the scope of what could be known by the populace of Nazi Germany. This shows that an abuse of vocabulary has direct humanitarian implications, and that vocabulary does have a huge impact on what can be known.
In conclusion, its evident that vocabulary provides a strong framework for what can be known by speakers of that language. Since vocabulary is predicated on its conventionality, it reflects the paradigm of the society in which it operates. While its equally evident that the paradigms of society can influence vocabulary, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that linguistic determinism may hold more merit than it was previously been granted, and that the vocabulary of a language is worthy of study in and of itself, as a lens into how knowers take in knowledge.
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