Imagine asking someone to move their "left foot" and receiving a puzzled look, not because they misunderstood you, but because their language has no words for left or right. Instead, speakers of Guugu Yimithirr, an Aboriginal Australian language spoken in northern Queensland, would say "move your east foot" or "step a little to the south". Whether indoors, in dense forest or facing an unfamiliar direction, they instinctively know the cardinal points. This extraordinary way of speaking has fascinated linguists and cognitive scientists for decades because it reveals how language can shape the way people perceive and navigate the world. Far from being a linguistic curiosity, Guugu Yimithirr offers one of the clearest examples of the deep relationship between language, culture and human cognition.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
