[Sigia-l] emotions/categories in different languages (was Re: i18n effects in folksonomies)

[Lada Gorlenko]

BM> You mention emotions, why do you think they're different in other
BM> languages? (Not disagreeing with you, just curious why.)

They are not strictly 'different'; it is proven, for example, that
human facial expressions are perceived nearly identical in most
cultures. However, the 'linguistic palette' of emotions does vary
between languages. For instance, there are lots of everyday words
for emotional hues in Russian that lack the exact equivalent (or
considered archaic) in English (well, we are more touchy-feely, I
guess).

A good example of categories mismatch between English and Russian, for
instance, is learning vs. teaching. Conceptually, the two are very
different, and rightfully have distinctive linguistic roots in English.
At the same time, there is no such distinction in Russian. 'To learn'
is 'to be taught'; a pupil is a 'teachee'; in the best case, 'I will
learn' is 'I will teach myself'. It is not a big fuss, unless the
difference is ctitical to your product (such as a training course
for Russian college professors in the Western methods of education,
in Russian).

BM> These issues seem quite relevant to taxonomies that are meant for
BM> international audiences, or in a localization context. Usable structure
BM> for information and the level at which a given category is perceived
BM> could vary between languages, because of this kind of language-based
BM> cognitive difference (though I did once have this conversation with a
BM> linguist who thought this was absolute crap).

Tell the linguist that cognitive scientists disagree :-) 'Usability'
of informational structures may vary. It's unlikely to be top-level
variance, but it may occur down the tree.

BM> > brain candy
> Ziya: Try that in Russian

Well, spot the difference between two Russian idioms (translated
literally):
a) Food for the mind
b) Porridge in one's head

B is the opposite of A, by the way :-)

Lada