Imagine a landscaper who has never seen a beautiful garden, but only hears about it from others. Their description of the garden would likely focus more on the paths and landmarks rather than the visual details. Similarly, a new study explores how lack of visual experience affects the way we use language. Researchers compared descriptions of motion events by congenitally blind individuals, blindfolded individuals, and sighted individuals. The study found that blind individuals paid more attention to the path of motion rather than the manner of motion compared to sighted individuals. They also used more landmarks and path verbs to convey their descriptions. Moreover, blind individuals gestured more towards landmarks and depicted less manner in their gestures compared to sighted individuals. These findings suggest that visual experience plays a crucial role in shaping how we express spatial events through language. Furthermore, they imply that blindness could enhance sensitivity to paths of motion due to changes in event perception. This research may inform our understanding of how our sensory experiences influence language processes. To learn more, dive into the full article!
Abstract
The human experience is shaped by information from different perceptual channels, but it is still debated whether and how differential experience influences language use. To address this, we compared congenitally blind, blindfolded, and sighted people’s descriptions of the same motion events experienced auditorily by all participants (i.e., via sound alone) and conveyed in speech and gesture. Comparison of blind and sighted participants to blindfolded participants helped us disentangle the effects of a lifetime experience of being blind versus the task-specific effects of experiencing a motion event by sound alone. Compared to sighted people, blind people’s speech focused more on path and less on manner of motion, and encoded paths in a more segmented fashion using more landmarks and path verbs. Gestures followed the speech, such that blind people pointed to landmarks more and depicted manner less than sighted people. This suggests that visual experience affects how people express spatial events in the multimodal language and that blindness may enhance sensitivity to paths of motion due to changes in event construal. These findings have implications for the claims that language processes are deeply rooted in our sensory experiences.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.