A Positive Look at the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis; How this Effect Affects English

In this paper, I present the various views of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which is the idea that language affects the way we think and ultimately how we see the world. Developed by Benjamin Lee Whorf and Edward Sapir, the stronger version of this hypothesis argues that language determines thought, while the weaker version suggests that language influences but does not determine our thoughts. I argue in support of the weaker version of this hypothesis, using not only Sapir and Whorf’s own work as evidence but also the differing views that scholars hold of this hypothesis. More specifically, I examine studies by Hoffman, Lau, and Johnson (1986), Prins and Ulijin (1998), and Fausey and Boroditsky (2011), as support for the weaker version of the hypothesis. Ultimately I present my own version of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which is that all the languages in the world may be used as a way to communicate though not necessarily in the same way.

Name thesis:degree_name

Bachelor of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

bachelors

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Linguistics

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo Honors Theses

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Lintz, Jana

Contributors dc:contributor

• Reichelt, Melinda

• Linguistics
• The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
• Linguistic Relativity
• Linguistic Determinism

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=uthonors1355495583

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:uthonors1355495583