Why Some Languages Have No Word for “Left” or “Right”

In some languages, there is no word for “left” or “right”, a fact that reveals more about the brain and human culture than we might assume.

Far from being a mere linguistic curiosity, this absence offers a compelling lens into how people conceptualize space, interact with their environment, and form collective identity.

Through a combination of anthropological evidence, cognitive science, and real-world observations, we explore how this directional gap reshapes perception.

This article breaks down the cultural, neurological, and functional implications of this phenomenon, incorporating true examples, statistical evidence, and expert insights.

You’ll also find a summary table on global language systems and two trustworthy external resources for deeper exploration.

A Global Lens: Not All Languages Think Alike

English and most Western languages rely on egocentric spatial terms: “left,” “right,” “in front,” and “behind.”

These directions shift based on the speaker’s position and orientation. But this is not a universal model.

In over one-third of the world’s known languages, people do not use a word for “left” or “right” at all.

Instead, they employ cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) or topographical cues like uphill/downhill.

For instance, the Tzeltal Mayan speakers in Mexico use “uphill” and “downhill” to describe locations, even indoors.

Likewise, the Aboriginal Guugu Yimithirr of Australia refer exclusively to cardinal points, saying things like, “Your south side is dirty,” regardless of the speaker’s orientation.

Such geocentric systems require constant awareness of landscape and direction, deeply embedding geography into cognition.

Research by cognitive scientist Stephen C. Levinson, affiliated with the Max Planck Institute, supports this with robust data.

He found that individuals from geocentric-language cultures often outperform others in spatial memory and orientation tasks, demonstrating that these directional systems train the brain differently.

Also Read: The Punks of Tijuana: Micro-Resistance Through Music and Style

Environmental and Functional Necessity

Why would some cultures reject relative direction? The answer lies in context. In expansive or topographically varied landscapes, fixed directional language is not only more precise but also essential for survival.

Think about communities in open deserts, coastal regions, or mountain ranges. In such environments, saying “walk east past the dunes” is more useful than saying “turn left after the tree.”

From early childhood, speakers of geocentric languages internalize the compass-like orientation. In their case, the body is not the reference point—the world is.

This shift in cognitive framing starts from the way elders give instructions to how games and rituals unfold.

This isn’t about linguistic complexity but rather about functional adaptation.

The land teaches the language. In urbanized, structured societies, however, egocentric directions prove more efficient.

Buildings, grids, and signage make relative positions reliable and scalable. This is how linguistic evolution responds to human context.

+ The Strangest Grammar Rules from Around the World

Table: Global Usage of Spatial Reference Systems

According to the World Atlas of Language Structures (WALS), the cardinal system dominates in languages spoken across Oceania, parts of Africa, and Central America.

Brain and Behavior: How Language Shapes Thinking

Cognitive linguist Lera Boroditsky’s experiments with Aboriginal speakers revealed astonishing insights. Individuals could orient themselves with cardinal precision even indoors or in unfamiliar cities.

One participant was able to point accurately to the cardinal directions in complete darkness—an ability rarely found in users of egocentric languages.

This spatial intelligence isn’t innate; it’s cultivated through daily use of geocentric terms. As a result, the absence of a word for “left” or “right” leads to enhanced environmental awareness.

Speakers must always know which way is north or where the mountain lies in relation to their body.

Rather than being less capable, they exhibit a form of intelligence that goes unnoticed in our metric-driven societies.

This suggests that language does not merely describe thought; it can actually rewire the brain’s capacity to process space.

+ The Pirahã Language: A Tribe That Doesn’t Have Words for Numbers

A Thought Experiment: GPS vs. Compass

Think of it this way: using relative directions is like navigating with GPS, constantly updating your route based on your position.

In contrast, using cardinal systems is more like carrying a compass—you must always know where you are in the world.

Both systems work. But they guide your attention differently. A GPS user focuses on immediate surroundings, while a compass user thinks globally.

This mental framing, shaped by language, changes how people experience not just movement, but memory, storytelling, and planning.

So, when a language lacks a word for “left” or “right”, it’s not an absence—it’s an alternate worldview.

Memory, Learning, and Long-Term Impact

The way children acquire these spatial systems influences more than just direction.

Studies show that children raised in cardinal-based languages develop stronger long-term memory skills when tested on spatial tasks. Why? Because they form mental maps based on stable reference points.

This model extends into other areas. In storytelling, for instance, speakers often describe events using cardinal terms to convey time and movement.

“He walked northward into the storm” carries not just imagery, but a precise anchor in space and time.

Even traditional crafts and rituals align with this thinking. In many Native American and Aboriginal societies, ceremonies and buildings are aligned according to sacred directions, not arbitrary placement.

This reveals a worldview where orientation is not just practical, but sacred.

Two Real-Life Cases, Naturally Integrated

Among the Guugu Yimithirr, a child might hear, “Pass the salt to the north of your plate,” rather than “on your right.”

This doesn’t just affect grammar—it defines perception. Similarly, in Bali, directions like kaja and kelod are embedded in religion, referencing mountain and sea.

These directions structure homes, rituals, and even daily greetings.

Both examples prove that when a culture lacks a word for “left” or “right”, it gains an entire framework of meaning and coordination based on something greater than individual orientation.

The Tech Perspective: What AI and UX Design Can Learn

Modern technologies increasingly reflect Western thinking. GPS apps, AR tools, and even robotics often use egocentric orientation. But developers now see limitations when adapting these tools for global use.

Incorporating geocentric logic into AI could offer improvements in autonomous navigation, especially in remote terrains where fixed markers matter more than relative cues.

UX designers are also rethinking directional language in multilingual apps to ensure intuitive interfaces.

This cultural awareness isn’t just ethical—it’s practical. It reminds us that not all users think in terms of “left” or “right.” You can explore this intersection further via a detailed analysis at MIT Technology Review.

What We Lose in Translation

Ironically, English often fails to translate these spatial nuances. When indigenous speakers switch to dominant languages, they often abandon geocentric frameworks, losing not just vocabulary but centuries of cultural wisdom.

This linguistic loss weakens ecological awareness and heritage preservation.

It also narrows the range of cognitive models available to humanity. Supporting multilingual education and preserving indigenous tongues is not only about culture—it’s about keeping alternative mental toolkits alive.

Final Thoughts: Words That Change the World

The absence of a word for “left” or “right” doesn’t indicate a lack. It points to a different kind of intelligence—one that sees the world not through the lens of the self, but through its immutable geography.

These linguistic patterns challenge assumptions, expand cognitive diversity, and enrich our understanding of human adaptability.

As globalization continues, honoring these spatial systems offers more than curiosity. It offers insight, humility, and a call to preserve the ways in which language shapes thought.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do all cultures without “left” and “right” use cardinal directions?
Not necessarily. Some use topographic references like “upriver” or even sacred directions based on landmarks.

2. Does this affect only language?
No. It influences cognition, spatial memory, architecture, rituals, and even child development.

3. Are these language systems disappearing?
Unfortunately, yes. With the dominance of global languages, many traditional spatial systems are under threat.

4. Does this have practical applications outside linguistics?
Absolutely. Artificial intelligence, user experience design, and even environmental education can benefit from geocentric thinking.