The Halfling Question – How Language Shapes What We Notice

September 2026

The Halfling Question is an animated documentary by Jonathan Stauffer that explores one of the most intriguing questions in contemporary linguistics: How does language shape the way we perceive, interpret and interact with the world around us? 

Beginning with an unexpected question about language from a fictional fantasy world, the film takes viewers on a journey through key discoveries in sociolinguistics and experimental research. Featuring Prof. Dr. Erez Levon from the University of Bern, it examines what science can tell us about the relationship between language, perception and social meaning. 

Rather than simply presenting research findings, the film weaves documentary interviews together with an original animated narrative. A small cast of characters accompanies the audience throughout the story, testing their own assumptions, debating surprising findings and gradually making sense of the scientific evidence. Their conversations bridge experiments and expert insights, inviting viewers to follow the same journey of discovery. 

“The Halfling Question – How Language Shapes What We Notice” by University of Bern (Author: Erez Levon) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International CC BY License.