How Relevant Is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis to Contemporary Psycholinguistic Research?
Abstract
The paper raises the question of whether the linguistic relativity proposal, also known as the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, should be used as a frame of reference for modern research into the relationship of language to cognition. The question is discussed in the context of Whorf’s (1956) writings, with emphasis on factors that are crucial to the proposal, i.e. language, thought, and behavior.
The second issue addressed by the paper is whether linguistic categories provide an accurate window on cognition, as was suggested by Whorf and in some of the more recent debates. The analysis takes the form of a correlational study which examines the categorization criteria applied in tests that require language-based and language-neutral judgments.
Keywords
linguistic relativity; Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis; cognition; language; correlational study
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University of Silesia in Katowice Poland
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