Alaska. Image: Schmid-Reportagen. Source: Pixabay.
Researchers at UC Berkeley (California) and Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh), from the USA, have analysed the generalised idea that Eskimo have 50 words for the concept of ‘snow’, but seen from another angle: they have studied if in warmer climates languages use the same word for ‘ice’ than for ‘snow’.
The answer is that they are more likely to use the same words. For example, Hawaiians use the word hau for ‘snow’ and ‘ice’.
To test that theory, researchers used multiple dictionaries and linguistic and meteorological data, as well as Google Translate and Twitter, to carry out an extensive search for words for both concepts in nearly 300 different languages. They linked those words to local climates and geography worldwide.
The study is based on previous researches of the team that show how language is determined by our need to communicate precisely and efficiently. In warmer climates, it is less important to be precise with respects to typical concepts of cold climates, explains the UC Berkeley in its web.
The answer is that they are more likely to use the same words. For example, Hawaiians use the word hau for ‘snow’ and ‘ice’.
To test that theory, researchers used multiple dictionaries and linguistic and meteorological data, as well as Google Translate and Twitter, to carry out an extensive search for words for both concepts in nearly 300 different languages. They linked those words to local climates and geography worldwide.
The study is based on previous researches of the team that show how language is determined by our need to communicate precisely and efficiently. In warmer climates, it is less important to be precise with respects to typical concepts of cold climates, explains the UC Berkeley in its web.
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