
There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world, and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape our perspectives and the way we think?
Thus, language is used to transmit values, laws, and cultural norms, including taboos. Language, since it expresses and reinforces culture, influences the personal identity of those living within the culture and creates boundaries of behavior. It also helps us express our feelings, thoughts and ideas by our gestures, expressions, tones, and emotions.
As our minds learn language, that language creates a framework that allows our mind to form consistent and conscious thought. Humans are amazingly self-reflective, thinking about ourselves and our experiences and our very existence. Language allows our minds to process this information in a consistent way. Habitual uses of language can influence our habit of thought and action.
This is unique to our species because it is a way to express unique ideas and customs within different cultures and societies. By learning a foreign language, you can understand ideas and thoughts that may be different from your own culture.
Therefore, the language we speak reflects what our values and beliefs are.