THE SAPIR–WHORF HYPOTHESIS AND THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE AWARENESS IN SHAPING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/Keywords:
Linguistic relativity, linguistic determinism, Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, worldview, language and thought, language structure, cognitive perception, color perception, ethnolinguistics, intercultural communicationAbstract
This paper explores the evolution, core arguments, and scholarly debates surrounding the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, also known as linguistic relativity. Originating with Wilhelm von Humboldt’s assertion of the connection between language and thought, the theory was later developed by Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf. The hypothesis argues that language either determines (strong version) or influences (weak version) human thought and perception. Through historical and modern examples—including Whorf’s studies of the Hopi language, Eskimo vocabulary for snow, and gendered pronoun experiments—this work examines how linguistic structure shapes worldview and categorization of experience. The paper also engages with counterarguments from scholars such as Steven Pinker and Berlin and Kay, who challenge the hypothesis based on universal cognitive capabilities like color perception. Despite criticisms, recent studies in neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics continue to support the influence of language on cognition. The annotation concludes that while the strong version of linguistic determinism remains controversial, there is growing empirical support for the weak version, which posits that language plays a significant role in shaping, guiding, and reflecting human perception and thought
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