Old enough Quote by Robin Wasserman
““That was the strange thing about translation, speaking someone else's words in a voice that somehow was and wasn't your own. You could fool yourself into believing you understood the meaning behind the words, but-as my father had explained long before I was old enough to get it-words and meaning were inseparable. Language shapes thought; I speak, therefore I think, therefor I am.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Language and Identity, 2012
Translation blurs speaker identity, linking language to thought and self.
In simple terms: Language shapes self.
Key Takeaway
Mindful communication.
Themes
language
identity
thought
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- translation work
- education
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
linguistics
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language define you?
- Can thought exist without language?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on language may ignore other identity facets.
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