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
73
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.
Whorl himself tends to hold that ______.
选项
A、culture is shaped by language
B、language determines thought
C、language partially influences thought
D、thoughts are based on language
答案
D
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/2ChO777K
0
考博英语
相关试题推荐
Standardusageincludesthosewordsandexpressionsunderstood,used,andacceptedbyamajorityofthespeakersofalanguagei
Thelittlegirlisignorant______thebasicrulesofEnglishgrammar.
leavingforworkinplentyoftimetocatchthetrainwill______worryaboutbeinglate.
Attitudesofrespect,modestyandfairplaycangrowonlyoutofslowlyacquiredskillsthatparentsteachtheirchildrenoverm
Thewaythatpeoplespendtheirmoney,andtheobjectsonwhichtheyspendit,arethelastareaswherefreechoiceandindividu
Thetextureofthesoildependsontherelativeamountsofdifferent-sizedparticlesthatcombinetomakeupthesoil.Thesepar
CantheInternethelppatientsjumpthelineatthedoctor’soffice?TheSiliconValleyEmployersForum,asophisticatedgroupo
Beans,peasandlentilsareinthelegumefamilyandareexcellentfoodchoices.Legumesarehealthycomplexcarbohydrates,full
Guthrie’scontiguityprincipleofferspracticalsuggestionsforhowtobreakhabits.Oneapplicationofthethresholdmethod
Asoneworkswithcolorinapracticalorexperimentalway,oneisimpressedbytwoapparentlyunrelatedfacts.Colorasseenis
随机试题
试论述请求分页与分页存储管理有何不同?缺页中断是如何发生的?缺页中断发生后应如何处理?
在Word2010文档的编辑中,要想实现图文组合混排,必须________。
一中年女性患者,突发右腰部及右下腹部剧痛,伴恶心,超声显示右肾轻度积水,输尿管内见强回声光团,与管壁分界清楚,后方伴有声影,可能的诊断是
患者男性,27岁,因左侧睾丸疼痛发现睾丸肿块,行睾丸切除术,病检为非精原细胞瘤,进一步行胸部CT检查发现右肺转移。首选的化疗方案是
所谓“人口红利”,是指一个国家的劳动年龄人口占总人口比重较大,抚养率比较低,为经济发展创造了有利的人口条件,整个国家的经济呈高储蓄、高投资和高增长的局面,下图为我国人口年龄结构变化图。据此回答下面各题。我国人口红利最大时期出现在()。
不属于科尔伯格提到的认识发展的六阶段内容的是()。
材料一C市急救指挥中心是市卫生健康委员会下设的事业单位,承担全市社会急救医疗的组织协调、调度指挥、应急处置和急救培训任务。中心下设综合办会室、信息调度科等6个科室。综合办公室负责中心的文秘、信访、接待、档案管理、对外宣传、安全保卫,与全市应急联动系
农村土地承包经营权流转制度是在()上确立的。
在现实中缺乏充分根据,因而在当前条件下尚不能实现的可能性称之为()
Smokingisverypopularwithpeople.【C1】______ofthesmokersbelievethatsmokingcan【C2】______theirnerveshardenedwithsoci
最新回复
(
0
)