Changes

The '''Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis''' states that [[language]] is not merely a way to express ideas, but that it determines the range of ideas we can have. If there's no word or term for a concept, it's hard even to conceive of it, let alone to communicate it to another person.  

The '''Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis''' states that [[language]] is not merely a way to express ideas, but that it effects the range of ideas that we can have. For example, if there's no word or term for a particular concept in one's language(s), then it typically is hard for one even to conceive of the concept in the first place, let alone communicate that concept to another person.  

*"... words don't merely match pre-existing things in the world. Rather, they shape and encapsulate ideas about things--how they are categorized (compare [[dog]] vs. [[canine]]), how we are interacting with them (compare [[sheep]] vs. [[mutton]]), how the word functions grammatically (compare the noun cow vs. the adjective bovine), and how we wish to represent our attitudes about them (compare critter vs. varmint)." <ref>http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/Misc/eskimo-snow-words.html</ref>

*"... words don't merely match pre-existing things in the world. Rather, they shape and encapsulate ideas about things--how they are categorized (compare [[dog]] vs. [[canine]]), how we are interacting with them (compare [[sheep]] vs. [[mutton]]), how the word functions grammatically (compare the noun cow vs. the adjective bovine), and how we wish to represent our attitudes about them (compare critter vs. varmint)." <ref>http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/Misc/eskimo-snow-words.html</ref>

Rebecca Ash wrote:

Rebecca Ash wrote:

:"The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis theorizes that [[thought]]s and [[behavior]] are determined (or are at least partially influenced) by language. If true in its strongest sense, the sinister possibility of a culture controlled by [[Newspeak]] or some other language is not just science fiction. Since its inception in the 1920s and 1930s, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis has caused controversy and spawned research in a variety of disciplines including [[linguistics]], [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], [[anthropology]], and [[education]]. To this day it has not been completely disputed or defended, but has continued to intrigue researchers around the world." <ref name=ash>[http://www.angelfire.com/journal/worldtour99/sapirwhorf.html]</ref>

:"The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis theorizes that [[thought]]s and [[behavior]] are determined (or, at least, partially influenced) by language. If true in its strongest sense, the sinister possibility of a culture controlled by [[Newspeak]] or some other language is not just science fiction. Since its inception in the 1920s and 1930s, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis has caused controversy and spawned research in a variety of disciplines including [[linguistics]], [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], [[anthropology]], and [[education]]. To this day it has not been completely disputed or defended, but has continued to intrigue researchers around the world." <ref name=ash>[http://www.angelfire.com/journal/worldtour99/sapirwhorf.html]</ref>

Wilhelm von Humboldt, writing a century before Sapir wrote a strong version of [[linguistic determinism]]:  

Wilhelm von Humboldt, writing a century before Sapir wrote a strong version of [[linguistic determinism]]:  

:"Man lives in the world about him principally, indeed exclusively, as language presents it to him."

:"Man lives in the world about him principally, indeed exclusively, as language presents it to him."