The Sapir Whorf Hypothesis

Author : Susanne Niemeier,René Dirven
Publisher : John Benjamins Publishing
Page : 264 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2000-04-15
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9789027284464

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Evidence for Linguistic Relativity by Susanne Niemeier,René Dirven Pdf

This volume has arisen from the 26th International LAUD Symposium on “Humboldt and Whorf Revisited. Universal and Culture-Specific Conceptualizations in Grammar and Lexis”. While contrasting two or more languages, the papers in this volume either provide empirical evidence confirming hypotheses related to linguistic relativity, or deal with methodological issues of empirical research.These new approaches to Whorf’s hypotheses do not focus on mere theorizing but provide more and more empirical evidence gathered over the last years. They prove in a very sophisticated way that Whorf’s ideas were very lucid ones, even if Whorf’s insights were framed in a terminology which lacked the flexibility of linguistic categories developed over the last quarter of this century, especially in cognitive linguistics. To date, there is sufficient proof to claim that linguistic relativity is indeed a vital issue, and the current volume confirms a more general trend for rehabilitating Whorf’s theory complex and also offers evidence for it. It contains articles written by scholars from various fields of linguistics including phonology, psycholinguistics, language acquisition, historical linguistics, anthropological linguistics and (cross-)cultural semantics, which all contribute to a re-evaluation and partial reformulation of Whorf’s thinking.

Author : John H. McWhorter
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 2014-04-01
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780199361601

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The Language Hoax by John H. McWhorter Pdf

Japanese has a term that covers both green and blue. Russian has separate terms for dark and light blue. Does this mean that Russians perceive these colors differently from Japanese people? Does language control and limit the way we think? This short, opinionated book addresses the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which argues that the language we speak shapes the way we perceive the world. Linguist John McWhorter argues that while this idea is mesmerizing, it is plainly wrong. It is language that reflects culture and worldview, not the other way around. The fact that a language has only one word for eat, drink, and smoke doesn't mean its speakers don't process the difference between food and beverage, and those who use the same word for blue and green perceive those two colors just as vividly as others do. McWhorter shows not only how the idea of language as a lens fails but also why we want so badly to believe it: we're eager to celebrate diversity by acknowledging the intelligence of peoples who may not think like we do. Though well-intentioned, our belief in this idea poses an obstacle to a better understanding of human nature and even trivializes the people we seek to celebrate. The reality -- that all humans think alike -- provides another, better way for us to acknowledge the intelligence of all peoples.

Author : John A. Lucy
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 350 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 1992-07-02
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 0521387973

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Language Diversity and Thought by John A. Lucy Pdf

An examination of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis on the relationship between grammar and thought.

Author : Peter C. Rollins
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 122 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 1980
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : UCSC:32106019543336

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Benjamin Lee Whorf by Peter C. Rollins Pdf

Typewritten manuscript, with photocopies of the published volume's title page, verso, and a portrait of Benjamin Lee Whorf.

Author : John J. Gumperz,Stephen C. Levinson
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 504 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 1996-07-11
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 0521448905

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Rethinking Linguistic Relativity by John J. Gumperz,Stephen C. Levinson Pdf

Linguistic relativity is the claim that culture, through language, affects the way in which we think, and especially our classification of the experienced world. This book reexamines ideas about linguistic relativity in the light of new evidence and changes in theoretical climate. The editors have provided a substantial introduction that summarizes changes in thinking about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis in the light of developments in anthropology, linguistics and cognitive science. Introductions to each section will be of especial use to students.

Author : Guy Deutscher
Publisher : Random House
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2016-08-04
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781446494905

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Through the Language Glass by Guy Deutscher Pdf

"Guy Deutscher is that rare beast, an academic who talks good sense about linguistics... he argues in a playful and provocative way, that our mother tongue does indeed affect how we think and, just as important, how we perceive the world." Observer *Does language reflect the culture of a society? *Is our mother-tongue a lens through which we perceive the world? *Can different languages lead their speakers to different thoughts? In Through the Language Glass, acclaimed author Guy Deutscher will convince you that, contrary to the fashionable academic consensus of today, the answer to all these questions is - yes. A delightful amalgam of cultural history and popular science, this book explores some of the most fascinating and controversial questions about language, culture and the human mind.

Author : Renate Giesbrecht
Publisher : GRIN Verlag
Page : 16 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2009-09-22
Category : Foreign Language Study
ISBN : 9783640431250

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The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis by Renate Giesbrecht Pdf

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Pedagogy, Literature Studies, grade: 1,3, University of Cologne (Englisches Seminar), course: Proseminar Sprachwissenschaft: Western Linguistics in the 20th century, language: English, abstract: The relationship between language, thought and reality has always been a fascinating subject for linguists and philosophers. Special attention was paid to it in the 20th century when Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf published their opinions to this subject. Whorf forms the main part of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, because he was introduced by Sapir to his general approach to linguistics and then extended it in his beliefs. The term “Sapir-Whorf hypothesis” was first introduced by J.B. Carroll and states in general that a human’s language shapes his perception of reality or in other words, that the world as we know it is largely predetermined by the language of our culture (Jandt, 1995: 93). Occurring differences between languages do also represent the basic differences in the worldview of different cultures (Jandt, 1995: 101). In this survey a general introduction to the hypothesis will be given by Sapir’s and Whorf’s definition of language. Furthermore the basic assumptions of the hypothesis will be conveyed. With the help of data taken from different languages these assumptions will be illustrated in detail. Finally also attention will be paid to criticism on the hypothesis.

Author : Martin Pütz,Marjolijn Verspoor
Publisher : John Benjamins Publishing
Page : 387 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2000-04-15
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9789027283757

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Explorations in Linguistic Relativity by Martin Pütz,Marjolijn Verspoor Pdf

About a century after the year Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941) was born, his theory complex is still the object of keen interest to linguists. Rencently, scholars have argued that it was not his theory complex itself, but an over-simplified, reduced section taken out of context that has become known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis that has met with so much resistance among linguists over the last few decades. Not only did Whorf present his views much more subtly than most people would believe, but he also dealt with a great number of other issues in his work. Taking Whorf’s own notion of linguistic relativity as a starting point, this volume explores the relation between language, mind and experience through its historical development, Whorf’s own writing, its misinterpretations, various theoretical and methodological issues and a closer look at a few specific issues in his work.

Author : Julia M. Penn
Publisher : Walter de Gruyter
Page : 64 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2014-01-02
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9783110818444

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Linguistic Relativity versus Innate Ideas by Julia M. Penn Pdf

Author : Aneta Pavlenko
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 399 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2014-02-06
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780521888424

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The Bilingual Mind by Aneta Pavlenko Pdf

If language influences the way we think, does it mean that bilinguals think differently in their respective languages? Interweaving cutting edge research, case studies and personal experience, this book will take you on a quest to unlock the mysteries of the bilingual mind.

Author : Brent Berlin,Paul Kay
Publisher : Univ of California Press
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 1991
Category : Art
ISBN : 0520076354

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Basic Color Terms by Brent Berlin,Paul Kay Pdf

Explores the psychophysical and neurophysical determinants of cross-linguistic constraints on the shape of color lexicons.

Author : Edward Sapir
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 512 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 1915
Category : Indians of North America
ISBN : STANFORD:36105008151362

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Abnormal Types of Speech in Nootka by Edward Sapir Pdf

Author : Rumjahn Hoosain
Publisher : Psychology Press
Page : 204 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2013-02-01
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781134763771

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Psycholinguistic Implications for Linguistic Relativity by Rumjahn Hoosain Pdf

Rather than offering variations in "world view" as evidence for linguistic relativity, this book views language related differences in terms of the facility with which information is processed. Distinctive perceptual, memory, and neurolinguistic aspects of the Chinese language are discussed, as is the cognitive style of the Chinese people. Chinese orthography and other features of morphology and syntax are examined in relation to both bottom-up and top-down cognitive processes. While providing an extensive review of the experimental literature published in English on the Chinese language, this volume also offers a significant sample of the literature originally published in Chinese.

Author : Steven Pinker
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 522 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2007-09-11
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781101202609

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The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker Pdf

This New York Times bestseller is an exciting and fearless investigation of language from the author of Rationality, The Better Angels of Our Nature and The Sense of Style and Enlightenment Now. "Curious, inventive, fearless, naughty." --The New York Times Book Review Bestselling author Steven Pinker possesses that rare combination of scientific aptitude and verbal eloquence that enables him to provide lucid explanations of deep and powerful ideas. His previous books - including the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Blank Slate - have catapulted him into the limelight as one of today's most important popular science writers. In The Stuff of Thought, Pinker presents a fascinating look at how our words explain our nature. Considering scientific questions with examples from everyday life, The Stuff of Thought is a brilliantly crafted and highly readable work that will appeal to fans of everything from The Selfish Gene and Blink to Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

Author : Penny Lee
Publisher : John Benjamins Publishing
Page : 345 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 1996-06-30
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9789027283900

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The Whorf Theory Complex by Penny Lee Pdf

At last — a comprehensive account of the ideas of Benjamin Lee Whorf which not only explains the nature and logic of the linguistic relativity principle but also situates it within a larger ‘theory complex’ delineated in fascinating detail. Whorf’s almost unknown unpublished writings (as well as his published papers) are drawn on to show how twelve elements of theory interweave in a sophisticated account of relations between language, mind, and experience. The role of language in cognition is revealed as a central concern, some of his insights having interesting affinity with modern connectionism. Whorf’s gestaltic ‘isolates’ of experience and meaning, crucial to understanding his reasoning about linguistic relativity, are explained. A little known report written for the Yale anthropology department is used extensively and published for the first time as an appendix. With the Whorf centenary in 1997, this book provides a timely challenge to those who take pleasure in debunking his ideas without bothering to explore their subtlety or even reading them in their original form.