# Language Shapes What People Can Think by Bryant McGill > “Language shapes what people can think. Vocabulary that lacks a concept makes that concept hard to discuss. New generations coin new words to express ideas their elders could not name.” > **— Bryant McGill**, *Reclaiming Selfishness, Balance, and the Whole Self, Part 1 - Livestream (Jun 2016)* ## Sources and Context - **Authoritative developed source:** [[livestreams/Reclaiming Selfishness, Balance, and the Whole Self, Part 1 - Livestream|Reclaiming Selfishness, Balance, and the Whole Self, Part 1 - Livestream]] — the Reminder reproduces the complete marked quotation object without alteration. For this workflow, the developed livestream document is the source authority. - **Interpretive context:** The quotation states an influence claim rather than strict linguistic determinism. Vocabulary can make distinctions easier to notice, discuss, preserve, and transmit. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Article:** [[articles/Understanding Politics and Trump Through Energy|Understanding Politics and Trump Through Energy]] - **Article:** [[articles/A Diplomatic Approach to Symbiosis|A Diplomatic Approach to Symbiosis]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Right to Know Reality|The Right to Know Reality]] - **Livestream:** [[livestreams/Reclaiming Selfishness, Balance, and the Whole Self, Part 1 - Livestream|Reclaiming Selfishness, Balance, and the Whole Self, Part 1 - Livestream]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Language|Language]] - [[wiki/Linguistic Relativity|Linguistic Relativity]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “Language shapes what people can think. Vocabulary that lacks a concept makes that concept hard to discuss. New generations coin new words to express ideas their elders could not name.” — Bryant McGill, Reclaiming Selfishness, Balance, and the Whole Self, Part 1 - Livestream (Jun 2016) https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-bryant-mcgill-language-shapes-thought ```