Language can shape how people categorize the world. It can also influence which details receive attention and which experiences are easier to remember. The words available in a language often make certain distinctions easier to express, while other ideas require more explanation. This influence reaches beyond vocabulary into habits of reasoning. It does not mean that speakers are locked into a single way of thinking, since education and social background can alter the effect. Bilingual speakers may switch between different conceptual systems in the same conversation. Researchers continue to test where language has a measurable effect and how large that effect is in a particular setting.