Benjamin Lee Whorf once proposed that language determined the way members of particular cultures thought about the world. While his “Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis” has not been supported to a great extent by ethnographic and more recently neurological data, the idea that a language system at least influences the way people think is still relevant to the study of anthropology.
For this group discussion first read Thomson’s 1975 article “Worlds Shaped by Words”. Next, take Whorf’s hypothesis and apply it to the English language, or if you are fluent in another language feel free to apply it to this other language. I’d like you to provide at least two examples from your of how language may influence the way you think, perceive the world around you, and/or interact with other people. To get started, try to think about the words in your language’s lexicon, its grammatical rules or structure, use of gendered or neutral nouns and pronouns, and metaphors that people use frequently in everyday speech. Points will be awarded based on the following:
Points will be awarded based the following:
Example from Thompson 1975 1 (2 pts.)
Explanation of how example 1 structures thought or perception of the world (2 pts.)
Example 2 from your own life (2 pts.)
Explanation of how example 2 structures thought or perception of the world (2 pts.)
I expect you to treat all communications with me and your fellow students professionally and respectfully. I expect you to write using conventional rules of grammar, spelling, and paragraph formation. This is a safe space for all genders, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, religions, disabilities, and socioeconomic statuses. Please be respectful of others perspectives, you may disagree, but I won’t tolerate offensive jokes, foul or culturally insensitive language, or ad hominem (personal) attacks. Posts that violate this may be removed.
