Linguistic Relativity Essay - 1508 Words

Introduction: Linguistic relativity is the notion that language can affect our thought processes, and is often referred to as the ‘Sapir-Whorf hypothesis’, after the two linguists who brought the idea into the spotlight. Whorf writes how â€Å"Language is not merely a reproducing instrument for voicing ideas but rather is itself the shaper of ideas, the program and guide for the individual’s mental activity† (1956:212), and I will explain how it is able to do so. In this essay I will argue that certain ways of mental categorization, spatial cognition and reality interpretation, based on the characteristics of our specific variety of language, influence our perception of the world. I will discuss how languages divide up nature differently, and†¦show more content†¦Dirven and Verspoor note how the English differentiation is â€Å"entirely forced on these children by the contrast between the English prepositions in and on† (1998:140), whereas in Korean, â₠¬Å"Kkita (glossable loosely as â€Å"fit†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦) is indifferent to whether the Figure goes into, onto, over, or together with the Ground, as long as it leads to a tight fit† (Choi and Bowerman 1991:90). The fact that the tested children grouped the actions in accordance with the grammatical structure of their respective language is evidence for linguistic relativity, as â€Å"both groups of children construe(d) the relations between objects in the world on the basis of their language specific categories, and not on the basis of some universal, conceptual categories† (Dirven and Verspoor 1998:140-141). This suggests that the children from the two linguistic communities will partly see the world in a different way, being inclined to categorise the things they see in contrasting fashions. Certain features are deemed important enough to warrant a category, and different languages prioritise different qualities. What this means is that when we say something belongs to a certain set, e.g. that putting toys into a container falls into an ‘in’ group, we are focussing on some, but neglecting other details of the situation, such as the ‘tightness’ of the fit. The framework of our languageShow MoreRelatedLinguistic Relativity And Linguistic Determinism1767 Words   |  8 Pagescognitive psychology- is the Sapir-Whorf Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis. This hypothesis, developed by Edward Sapir in 1929 with the help of his student Benjamin Whorf, states that language affects cognition and perception (Kay Kempton). The two main components of this theory are linguistic relativity and linguistic determinism. Linguistic relativity is the idea that the grammar and structure of a language affect cognitive processes in some way, while linguistic determinism goes beyond that claimingRead More Sapir-Worf Hypothesis: Linguistic Determinism and Linguistic Relativity845 Words   |  4 PagesSapir-Worf Hypothesis: Linguistic Determinism and Linguistic Relativity The romantic idealism of the late eighteenth century, as encountered in the views of Johann Herder (1744-1803) and Wilhelm von Humboldt (I 762-1835), placed great value on the diversity of the world’s languages and cultures. The tradition was taken up by the American linguist and anthropologist Edward Sapir (1884-1939) and his pupil Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897-1941), and resulted in a view about the relation between languageRead MoreWhy Is A Neutral Question? 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The contentious man behind the theory is Benjamin Lee Whorf, a man of unconventional ideas, known primarily for hisRead More The Origin Of Language Essay1541 Words   |  7 Pagescomplex one and not one in which all researchers are in agreement. Neither are researchers in agreement about whether animals have the capability of language. To resolve these controversies we must look to both human and animal research. The linguistic relativity theory known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis was developed by Benjamin Lee Whorf (a linguist and anthropologist) and Edward Sapir. The theory argues that language is a finite array of lexical and grammatical categories that group experiencesRead MoreDoes The Language Shape The Way We Think?926 Words   |  4 Pagesa different perceptual world? Or is language just a set of labels for universal thoughts or ideas? (Shaules, 2015) Many brilliant thinkers have spent their entire lives working on these kinds of topics for over a century. 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