Language and Culture and Sapir- Whorf Hypothesis

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

Whatever knowledge a person must have in order to function in a particular society.

Question 2

Cultural Knowledge:

Answer 2

• socially acquired not learned
• Required for daily living
• People belonging to the same culture interpret the world in the same way
• express themselves in ways that are understood and accepted by each other

Question 3

Possible Language and Culture Relationship:

Answer 3

1) Language causes worldview
- -Predisposed to specific view
2) Worldview is reflected in the language
- -Influences how a language is used
3) No Relationship
4) Both affect each other

Question 4

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Answer 4

We only see what language allows us to see. Structure of a language determines the worldview.
- Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf

Question 5

Sapir’s Views

Answer 5

Language and Culture are related. The world is not objective, we are ate the mercy of our language
- Our language habits predispose certain choices of interpretation

Question 6

Whorf’s Views

Answer 6

Extended Sapir’s Ideas.

• Worldviews differ between different grammars
• Whorf structure does not say the structure completely determines the way speakers view the world
• We cannot see the world as it is, we can see the world as it is prescribed by our language

Question 7

Joshua Fishman (Vocabulary and Worldview):

Answer 7

It is easier to talk about things in a language variety that has vocabulary on the topic. ex Technical vocabulary

Question 8

Strongest Claim - Whorf Sapir Hypothesis

Answer 8

• Grammatical categories not only help the users to perceive the world but also limit such perception
• You perceive what your language allows you to perceive
• Your Language controls your worldview
• Different Ls = different obligatory grammatical categories
• No two Ls are similar enough to be considered as representing the same social reality

Question 9

The Hopi Time System

Answer 9

Speakers would simply not be able to understand some of our most basic concepts. ex the flow of time
- see it as circular instead of units, expressed through aspect

Question 10

Matses

Answer 10

Must Specify how they came to know something

Question 11

Linguistic Determanism

Answer 11

Strong form: People from different cultures think differently because of differences in their Languages

Question 12

Linguistic Relativity

Answer 12

Language influences perception, thought and behaviour

Predisposed to think a specific way

Question 13

Grammatical Number in English and in Yucatec Maya by Lucy

Answer 13

English Contrasts mass and count nouns
Yucatec only plural for animate nouns
Results: Similar patterns where the languages agreed in structure, differ where the two languages are in maximal contrast

Question 14

What were the object gender differences of Spanish and German Speakers?

Answer 14

Bridges, clocks and violins:

• Manly properties by Spanish
• Slender and elegant properties by German

Question 15

Most Vicious Critic of Whorf’s claims?

Answer 15

Steven Pinker
- Circularity of claims: Languages differ – Thoughts of speakers differ
The evidence for speakers thoughts differing– difference in Languages

Question 16

Countering the Whorf-Sapir Hypothesis:

Answer 16

• If language totally determines thought there can be no thought without language (babies?)
• Communications between speakers should not be possible ( translations, multilingual people)
• If one language doesn’t make the distinction of a second language, we can still talk about these concepts in language one
• If we can find a way to control the language people learn we can control their mind

Question 17

Prison-house of language:

Answer 17

If the Sapir- Whorf hypothesis is true we are trapped by the language we speak. If someone controls the language they control our minds.