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
2014-03-02
45
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 Whorf 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. Whorf 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 Whorl Believes that language determines thought. Heated debate among modem 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. Whorf 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. Whorf 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. Whorf developed this theory while studying the Hopi Indian tribe. Whorf 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 peoples. After hither 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 ev0eryone 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.
Which of the following criticisms is often made of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?
选项
A、It has no empirical evidence in its favor.
B、It is formulated on the basis of only one case study.
C、Its applicability has been greatly exaggerated.
D、No convincing examples can be found to support its claim.
答案
C
解析
第四段第一句明确指出“It is commonly believed that…all situations is questioned.”,也就是说人们普遍认为Sapir-Whorf假设具有一定的真实性,但对该学说能否适用于所有情况提出了质疑,后半句实际上暗指有人对该假设的用途过分夸大提出了批评。所以选C。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/mCQO777K
0
考博英语
相关试题推荐
Sleepisanimportantpartofourlives.Wespendaboutone-thirdofourlivessleeping.Formillionsofpeople,【51】,gettingen
Sleepisanimportantpartofourlives.Wespendaboutone-thirdofourlivessleeping.Formillionsofpeople,【51】,gettingen
"Interculturalcommunication"iscommunication【51】membersofdifferentcultures.Thisdefinitionissimple,【52】theprocessisco
"Interculturalcommunication"iscommunication【51】membersofdifferentcultures.Thisdefinitionissimple,【52】theprocessisco
Mostnewwordsaremadeupfromotherearlierwords;language-makingisaconservativeprocess,wastinglittle.Whennewwordsu
Overthepasttwodecades,teenagechildbearingintheUnitedStates—asmeasuredbythenumberofbirthstoteenagers—hasdecrea
一直以来,哈佛大学要求在校本科生除了自己的主修专业课程之外,还要修习一系列课程,以确保他们受到的本科教育涵盖了宽泛的研究课题和研究方法。哈佛大学新的通识教育项目(generaleducationprogram)大胆地致力于将学生在课堂上学到的知识与校园
ThecharacterofEuropeaneducationdemandsthatthestudentdevelop【C1】______andsocialindividuality.TheAmericanstudentis
ThecharacterofEuropeaneducationdemandsthatthestudentdevelop【C1】______andsocialindividuality.TheAmericanstudentis
ThecharacterofEuropeaneducationdemandsthatthestudentdevelop【C1】______andsocialindividuality.TheAmericanstudentis
随机试题
A.劳力过度B.劳神过度C.房劳过度D.安逸少动,气机不畅心悸失眠、健忘、纳呆腹胀便溏可见于
患者女,64岁。左肩关节活动受阻2年,进行关节活动度评定。测量前屈时量角器的轴心应固定在
当x→0时,3x一1是x的()。
Toachievefluency,whenshouldcorrectionbeconducted?
监视居住最长不得超过()
地方各级机关公务员的录用,由()公务员主管部门负责组织。
,r(A)=2,则A*x=0的通解为________.
软件维护是软件运行期的重要任务,下列维护任务中哪项是软件维护的主要部分
Windows2003系统中创建Web站点时需配置该网站的访问权限,不属于网站访问权限的选项是
1.请将下列数据建成一个数据表(存放在A1:E4的区域内),并求出个人工资的浮动额以及原来工资和浮动额的“总计”(保留小数点后面两位),其计算公式是:浮动额=原来工资×浮动率,其数据表保存在Sheet1工作表中。姓名原来工资浮动率
最新回复
(
0
)