Checklist of objectives for Language and Thought

what points did George orwell make in 1984?

• George Orwell → Is thought actually dependent on words to the point where if you eliminate words like freedom then people would no longer be able to think of the concept ? 

 how does the assumptions made by Orwell in 1984 illustrate the concept of linguistic determinism.

• Linguistic Determinism: (idea that language determines the thoughts we have) 

  • An idea dating back to ancient Greece, and later Behaviorists

  • Thought is determined by language: All thoughts must first be words

How many words do Eskimos have for snow, according to Whorf? How many words do Eskimos have for snow, according to Pullum? Is it truly different than the number of words that any other culture has for snow? 

• Whorf → 7 words

• Pullam → 2 

• Inuit → No. Pullen says that this myth of  Eskimos having a large number of words for snow is fake, and that there is no true difference. Since languages create words differently 

What sequence of events led to so many reputable sources being wrong about the number of Eskimo words for snow? What role did Whorf himself play in this sequence?

• People misunderstood variations of a word for the actual word. Also, with lesser known cultures it is harder to get correct information. Whorf couldn’t differentiate “operational def” for adjectives. 

• Then this article got released as scholarly to which everyone was using without doing their own research 

  • Boaz → Whorf → Woodbury & others → got sensationalized 

 Know in detail how each of these supports or does not support the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis:

• Whorf’s observation that Eskimos have many words for snow

1. This idea Does not support the Sapir - Whorf hypothesis due to lack of evidence of them THINKING differently 

2. This idea that Eskimos have many words for snow was not even tested. So we don't really know what caused what. 

3. Based on exaggeration and misunderstanding of how language works. 

Know in detail how each of these supports or does not support the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis:

• Rosch’s color categorization study

1. Nail in the coffin for whorf hypothesis - even in weakest version has nothing to stand on (NOT SUPPORTIVE)

2. Was originally designed to support the hypothesis

3. After doing the test between the US and Dani , No difference in categorical perception tests

• Discriminate equally

• Test proved hypothesis FALSE

• Language difference has no effect on thought

  •  

Know in detail how each of these supports or does not support the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis:

• The English/Chinese bilingual categorization study (with cows, chickens, grass)

1. Supports hypothesis (strongest)

2. It depended on what language that the test was given in 

3. Good evidence for weak version of hypothesis: language spoken = categorization 

   • Language can influence thought in some circumstances 

     • When speaking in english → thought in more american way 

     • When speaking chinese → thought more chinese 

     • Categorization was dependent on language being used  

     
       

 Know in detail how each of these supports or does not support the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis:

• Roberson et al.’s color categorization study

1. Supports weak hypothesis 

2. This test was a variation of the Rosch color test but they used British and other isolated cultures

   • Nol: “live” green yellow blue purple

   • Wap: white and all pale colors

   • Kel: black charcoal “dirty”

   • Idea was to draw borders of where each color is 

3. Results: British could discriminate between green and blue better than berinmo (vise versa) Berinmo were better at discriminating Nol and Wor

   1. English were better at distinguishing the border between green and blue 

   2. Berinmo were better at distinguishing the border between nol and war 

 Understand how each of the following provide evidence on the issue of language and thought. What version of what hypothesis is supported and/or refuted?

• the video we watched in class about the sea lion Rio

Categorization (thought) does not require language 

• Goes against the Whorf strong version hypothesis -- 

  • You can think without language 

Understand how each of the following provide evidence on the issue of language and thought. What version of what hypothesis is supported and/or refuted?

• the textbook’s anecdote about “the fearless Smith”

1. The man that temporarily paralyzed his body so his throat muscles wouldn’t work, but he was still able to think

2. Disproves strongest form hypothesis

weak version of the Whorf Hypothesis.

• thoughts and perceptions influenced by language

  • Language explains some variance in thought

strong version of the Whorf Hypothesis.

• thoughts, perceptions determined by language

  • Language explains ALL variance in thought