Language - reality

1. Introduction: Definitions Page 2

2. Arguments: Agree

1. Languages and cultures. Sapir-Whorf. Page 2

2. Proverbs and Clichés. Religion Page 2

3. Arguments: Disagree

1. Sense: Communication and RealityPage 3

2. Language and reality Page 3

3. Stereotypes Page 4

4. Completion Page 4

5. BibliographyPage 5

1. Introduction

First of all, concept of reality is abstract. Platon said that reality begins with the idea that we created in our mind, it can be done through images. Next; Descartes, who said that the real truth is I’m living. And finally, Hume who reaffirms that, impressions are clearer than ideas. For that reason is very difficult to say that if language canperceive reality.
On the other hand, reality is relative. It depends on your culture. For example, the matter with snow in Spain and in Greenland, we only distinguish one type of snowflake but for people who live in Greenland know all the types of flakes.
Language is the faculty or style of communication. As a result, when I say “language” is a general concept of communication which includes: images,photos, sounds... However; a language is different, like Spanish language. It is more specific.

2. Arguments: Agree

2.1. Languages and cultures. Sapir-Whorf
Sapir said that “language structure controls thought and cultural norms”
To a certain extent, from my point of view, this theory can be truth if I focus this statement with the Sapir’s example. Language reflects the culture or ourlife style. The example of Sapir is clear, my expressions and vocabulary is different from people who lives in Alaska because of characterizes of their country or culture. Although I don’t know the different types of snowflakes, I can learn their culture and being immersed in it. His theory is limited as a result it had been criticized.

2.2. Proverbs, Clichés. Religion
Language has manyproverbs that reflect our culture and our part of reality.
I have an example of clichés that is used in Spanish: Athletic de Bilbao, one of the most important football clubs in Spain. Its slogan is “alirón, alirón, Athletic campeón”. “Aliron” comes from the rich mines of iron, they were in Bilbao and English people ran them. Miners worked hard and the salary depended on the quality of theirsextractions of minerals. Maximum quality was called “all iron”. Then, this word was connected with the sport (football) which was imported by English engineers. For that reason, in my opinion words hid a great part of our history and culture, and we should to discover their secrets.
Religion is the most important fact to understand our language. In Spanish would be impossible to delete all our proverbs orchiclés that contains something about our religion. I have some examples in English “it's in the lap of the gods” “Oh! My God!”.
And others in Spanish: “Desnudar un santo para vestir a otro”[1] ,
“Dios nos coja confesados”[2], It’s mean that language absorbs our thoughts, in this examples, religion or history.

3. Disagree

3.1. Senses: Communication and Reality

We can start talkingabout the perception of reality through of: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. In high-context cultures like Japan, sight is very important model of communication in relationships; as a consequence sight can see reality. Nevertheless, if you don’t know the other culture you may will have some problems about misunderstanding. Another example is when you are in a speech and you disagree with...