Language Families And Linguistic Diversity Questions Medium
Linguistic determinism is a concept in linguistics that suggests that the structure and vocabulary of a language significantly influence the thoughts and worldview of its speakers. It proposes that language shapes and determines our perception of reality, as well as our cognitive processes and cultural patterns.
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, also known as linguistic relativity, is a specific version of linguistic determinism. It was developed by Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the early 20th century. The hypothesis suggests that the language we speak influences the way we think and perceive the world around us. According to this hypothesis, different languages provide different conceptual frameworks and categories, which in turn shape our thoughts and behaviors.
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis can be divided into two main versions: strong and weak. The strong version argues that language determines our thoughts and that we can only think in terms of the linguistic categories provided by our language. In contrast, the weak version suggests that language influences our thoughts and perception, but does not completely determine them.
In summary, linguistic determinism is the broader concept that suggests language shapes our thoughts and worldview, while the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is a specific version of linguistic determinism that focuses on the influence of language on our cognition and perception.