首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Linguists have understood for decades that language and thought are closely related. Humans construct reality using thought and
Linguists have understood for decades that language and thought are closely related. Humans construct reality using thought and
admin
2013-11-29
46
问题
Linguists have understood for decades that language and thought are closely related. Humans construct reality using thought and express these thoughts through the use of language. Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Whorl are credited with developing the most relevant explanation outlining the relationship between thought and language, the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. The hypothesis consists of two parts, linguistic relativity and linguistic determinism. Supporters of linguistic relativity assume that culture is shaped by language. Terwilliger defines linguistic determinism as the process by which "the functions of one’s mind are determined by the nature of the language which one speaks." In simpler terms, the thoughts that we construct are based upon the language that we speak and the words that we use. In its strongest sense, linguistic determinism can be interpreted as meaning that language determines thought. In its weakest sense, language partially influences thought. Whorl was careful to avoid authoritative statements which would permanently commit him to particular position.
Because of the broad nature of his statements, it is difficult to distinguish exactly to what extent Whorf believes that language determines thought. Heated debate among modern linguists demonstrates that disagreement exists about the accuracy and correctness of Whorf’s studies and of the actual level of influence of language on thought processes.
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis essentially consists of two distinct statements connecting the relation of thought and language. Whorl believes that humans may be able to think only about objects, processes, and conditions that have language associated with them. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis also explains the relationship between different languages (French, English, German, Chinese, and so on) and thought. Whorl demonstrated that culture is largely determined by language. Different cultures perceive the world in different ways. Culturally essential objects, conditions and processes usually are defined by a plethora of words, while things that cultures perceive as unimportant are usually assigned one or two words. Whorl developed this theory while studying the Hopi Indian tribe. Whorl was amazed that the Hopi language has no words for past, present, and future. The Hopi have only one word for flying objects. A dragonfly, an airplane, and a pilot are defined using the same word. Whorf questioned whether or not the Hopi view the world differently than western people. After further interpretation and analysis he concluded that the Hopi have a sense for the continuum of time despite having no words, to specifically describe past, present, and future.
It is commonly believed that the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis possesses some truth, but the extent to which it is applicable to all situations is questioned. Linguists generally support a "strong" or a "weak" interpretation. Linguists who study the hypothesis tend to cite examples that support their beliefs but are unable or unwilling to refute the opposing arguments. Examples exist that strengthen the arguments of everyone who studies the hypothesis. Nobody has gained significant ground in proving or refuting the hypothesis because the definitions of Sapir and Whorl are very vague and incomplete, leaving room for a significant amount of interpretation.
Advocates of linguistic determinism insist that ______.
选项
A、the realities constructed through different languages are different
B、language and thought are intimately related to each other
C、culture is shaped by language through which it expresses itself
D、both the culture and the mind determine the language to be used
答案
A
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/1ChO777K
0
考博英语
相关试题推荐
Sheisavery______student.She’salwaystalkingabouttravelingtoouterspace.
Singlemumsarebetteratraisingtheirkidsthantwoparents—atleastinthebirdworld.Motherzebrafincheshavetoworkhard
leavingforworkinplentyoftimetocatchthetrainwill______worryaboutbeinglate.
Attitudesofrespect,modestyandfairplaycangrowonlyoutofslowlyacquiredskillsthatparentsteachtheirchildrenoverm
Millionsofindividualsallaroundtheworldareinovertheirheadsindebt.Debtcanturnanindividualortheirfamily’slife
Therearemanybenefitstousingonlinedistancelearningenvironments.Onlineeducationisavailableanyplace,anytimeforgl
CantheInternethelppatientsjumpthelineatthedoctor’soffice?TheSiliconValleyEmployersForum,asophisticatedgroupo
Cloningshakesusalltoourverysouls.Forhumanstoconsiderthecloningofoneanotherforcesthemalltoquestionthevery
Mobilityofindividualmembersandfamilygroupstendstosplitupfamilyrelationships.Occasionallythemovementofafamilya
Newtechnologylinkstheworldasneverbefore.Ourplanethasshrunk.It’snewa"globalvillage"wherecountriesareonlyseco
随机试题
清末的著名学制有1902年公布但未实施的《壬寅学制》和1904年颁布并在全国推行的《_________》。
精血互生互化的依据是
下列关于跨币种套利的经验法则的说法中,正确的是()。
商业银行营销组织的模式主要有()。
我国民间广为流传“瑞雪兆丰年”,意思是说冬天下几场大雪,这是来年庄稼获得丰收的预兆。下列能够解释这种现象的原因是()。
下列各句中,划线成语使用不恰当的是()。
坚持“三个代表”重要思想是党的建设的根本问题。()
判断唯物史观与唯心史观的分水岭是
设L为曲线x2+y2=R2(常数R>0)一周,n为L的外法线方向向量,u(x,y)具有二阶连续偏导数且
A、Hehasmanagedtosellanumberofcars.B、Heiscontentedwithhiscurrentposition.C、Hemightgetfired.D、Hehaslosthis
最新回复
(
0
)