Which came first: language or thought?
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Abstract
The misconception that Eskimos have a multitude of words for “snow” is a popular myth that brings up an interesting aspect on the correlation between language and thought. Do variations in language, such as the number of words for snow, impact our perception to such an extent that language may be a precursor to thought? In fact, Eskimos only have one word for snow, and current research dispels the idea that language solely determines perception1. Although thought exists independently of language, one’s native tongue does impact his or her perception of the world, to a degree.