Linguistic Relativity: An Essential Guide to Past Debates and Future Prospects
Linguistic Relativity: An Essential Guide to Past Debates and Future Prospects
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Computing Science
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Cite
Abstract
Does your language distinguish between dark and light blues? Do your verbs require a report on where and how you got your information? Can you easily talk about non-actual situations in your language? What does this mean for the way you see the world, if anything? Linguistic relativity, also known as Whorfianism by some, is actually a group of related positions that postulate that one’s native language generates some set of important directions or limitations on one’s cognition. In its extreme form, it even suggests that languages can create distinct (and possibly incompatible) worldviews. Recent cross-linguistic experiments on subtle grammatical distinctions between colour words or the presence of subjunctive conditionals have reignited the once furious debate on just how much our languages can shape the way we see the world. This book traces the development of the concept of linguistic relativity through the centuries, paying particular attention to Benjamin Whorf and the evidence for or against the various claims he made in this realm. We follow that with the application of linguistic relativity to modern attempts to verify it, as well as to certain social and intellectual endeavours that are prominent in the current philosophic, linguistic, and cognitive science literature.
-
Front Matter
- 1 Basic Linguistic Relativity A Quick Sketch
-
2
Some Historical Antecedents of Linguistic Relativity
-
3
Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf: Lives, Research, and Whorfianism
-
4
Three Interpretations of Linguistic Relativity
-
5
Linguistic Relativity and Cognitive Science
-
6
Conclusion: Whorf and Relativity—Yes? or No?
-
7
Afterword
-
End Matter
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMonth: | Total Views: |
---|---|
April 2025 | 10 |
April 2025 | 13 |
April 2025 | 17 |
April 2025 | 15 |
April 2025 | 14 |
April 2025 | 15 |
April 2025 | 15 |
April 2025 | 8 |
April 2025 | 13 |
April 2025 | 10 |
April 2025 | 11 |
April 2025 | 14 |
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.