L3.

13
What is the Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis?
According to many linguists, language in the sense we ordinary think of is
a historical or social or political notion, rather than a scientific one. There are
around 5000 languages in use today, and echo different in their own ways. Many
thinkers have urged that large differences in language lead to large differences in
experience and thought. They hold that each language embodies a worldview,
with quite different languages embodying quite different views, so that speakers
of different languages think about the world in quite different ways.
Linguistic Diversity: Languages, especially members of quite different language
families, differ in important ways from one another.
Linguistic Influence on Thought: The structure and lexicon of ones language
influences how one perceives and conceptualizes the world, and they do so in a
systematic way.
L3.14
Who is Noam Chomsky? What does he say about language acquisition,
language inquisition device and transformational grammar?
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist,
logician, political commentator and activist, sometimes described as the father
of modern linguistics; Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy.
L3.15
What is Inter-actionist Theory and how does is explain language
development in infants?
Inter-actionist theory involves mental models opposed to external social
models. The inter-actionists argue children are born with a powerful brain that
matures slowly and influences them to acquire new understandings that they are
motivated to share with others.
L3.16
Who are Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf? What is their hypothesis?
According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, language determines our
experience of reality, and we can see and think only what our language allows us
to see and think. Since the hypothesis claims that language determines the way
we think, it can be described as a form of linguistic determinism.
L3.17
How did Farb test the hypothesis?
L3.18
How is language used to influence and persuade?
1) Emotionally Laden Language
Some words have not only a descriptive meaning, but also an emotive
meaning. Emotive meaning can be defined as the aura of favorable or
unfavorable feeling that hovers about a word. While some words have positive
connotations, others have negatives one. That is why everyone claims to be in
favor of peace, and no one likes to be labeled a liar.

2) Weasel Words
Weasel words are words such as many, should, and probably which people
slip into sentences to give themselves an escape route.
3) Grammar
Grammar can also affect the way people see things.
a) Many villages were bombed
b) We bombed many villages
While the first sentence makes the bombing sound like a natural disaster, the
second puts the spotlight on the perpetrators.
4) Revealing and Concealing
Language can be used not only to reveal certain aspects of reality, but also to
conceal other aspect by diverting attention away from them.
L3.19

Language is power! We use language to express how we are feeling, our

emotions, and what we are thinking about. With out language the world would
not be able to function.
L3.20
Doublespeak and Doublespeak originates from George Orwell.
L3.21
Determine =
- To officially decide something especially because of evidence or facts
- To be the cause of or reason for something
- To learn or find out something by getting information.
Influence =
- The power to change or affect someone or something
- The power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen
- A person or thing that affects someone or something in an important way
Influence is not only based on facts or evidence or information but they way that
it affects. While determine is based on evidence or facts.
L3.22
All languages should be preserved
Languages should be preserved in the way they should be kept maintained but
not in its original state. Language should keep on growing and expanding.
Language is a BEAUTIFUL thing.