Alex -
I don't doubt that people develop language as they see fit. But the questions I'm asking are the same questions that have been asked since antiquity. My interest in the subject isn't to discredit any culture or language. It's a legitimate inquiry.
Language influences our world view. That's pretty much a given. That's also the feeling of (most) relativists nowadays.
One of the things I love about linguistics is that it takes the "soft" sciences and the "hard" sciences and puts them together. If you consider Chomskian linguistics, which asserts there is a critical period for learning a language, then why not ask it about math? It's definitely worthy of consideration.
If a group does not have need, for, say, algebra, then how can you say their world view isn't different? They also have no written history. Now, I believe that writing is a human invention. But according to scientists who have visited, they seem to have no history. Can you imagine a world without books? Internet? Bills to pay? Tell me that doesn't change your world view.
What does empathy have to do with it?
RE: Color: There are a lot of studies on this. I just randomly googled color perception + language and here's a hit Hues and views for anyone else that's interested.
dis
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Yes, that clearly influences how we think. I don't know what your argument is. It sounds like you agree with me...?
