Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (also known as the "Whorfian hypothesis" and the "linguistic relativity hypothesis") is a linguistic theory that states that language is not merely a way of expressing ideas, but it is the mechanism that gives shape those ideas.

It was formulated by Benjamin Lee Whorf, a student - and later colleague of - Edward Sapir, who stated during the 1930's that:

“

We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native languages. The categories and types that we isolate from the world of phenomena we do not find there because they stare every observer in the face; on the contrary, the world is presented in a kaleidoscopic flux of impressions which has to be organized by our minds - and this means largely by the linguistic systems in our minds. We cut nature up, organize it into concepts, and ascribe significances as we do, largely because we are parties to an agreement to organize it in this way - an agreement that holds throughout our speech community and is codified in the patterns of our language. The agreement is, of course, an implicit and unstated one, but its terms are absolutely obligatory; we cannot talk at all except by subscribing to the organization and classification of data which the agreement decrees.

”

(Emphasis the author's own)