The Sapir-Worf Hypothesis - Linguistics - Language shapes the world of habitual thought!
今日は「サピア＝ウォーフ仮説」で知られるウォーフの論文集『言語・思想・現実』を紹介します。言語は人間の思考に影響を与えると彼は言いました。 サピア＝ウォーフ仮説は、その後の哲学や言語学に大きな影響を与えました。(English) Today I want to present Whorf's collection of papers, "Language/Thought/Reality", known for his "Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis". He said that language influences human thought. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis has had a significant influence on subsequent philosophy and linguistics.
The Sapir-Worf Hypothesis - Linguistics - Language shapes the world of habitual thought!
//Summary -Level-C2//
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, proposed by the linguist Benjamin Lee Whorf, suggests that language influences human thought. There are two versions of this hypothesis: linguistic determinism, which means that language determines thought, and linguistic relativity, which suggests language influences perception. Whorf's ideas have had a significant impact on philosophy and linguistics. Examples such as the science fiction film "Message" shows how language can shape interpretation. Whorf's study of the Hopi language revealed differences in the expression of concepts such as time and mass. Recent research supports the idea that language affects perception, and thinkers such as Douglas Engelbart have applied these ideas to fields such as computer science. Language plays a crucial role in shaping our habitual thought patterns and understanding of the world.
//Summary - Level-B2//
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis suggests that language influences thought. It has two versions: linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity. Examples like the movie "Message" show how language shapes interpretation. Whorf studied the Hopi language and found differences in expressing time and mass. Recent research supports the idea that language affects perception. Language is crucial in shaping our thought patterns and understanding of the world.
1)
I want to present Whorf's collection of papers, "Language/Thought/Reality", known for his "Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis".
He said that language influences human thought. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis has had a significant influence on subsequent philosophy and linguistics.
It's well known, but what was Worf's real intention?
Today I will explain his thoughts again and tell you how exciting language is.
Enjoying this language may change the way you see the world.
2)
First of all, what is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
There are two main reasons for this hypothesis.
One is a strong hypothesis called linguistic determinism.
This means that the form of the mother tongue people use determines their state of thinking.
In other words, their language determines how people think, and different languages have different ways of looking at the world.
3)
The other is a weak hypothesis called linguistic relativity.
This is a milder hypothesis than the strong hypothesis that language somehow affects how we perceive the world.
Sapir and Sapir-Worf are different linguists, by the way.
But they did not propose this hypothesis together.
Among their claims, the common one has been summarised by later generations as the Sapir-Worf hypothesis.
4)
Here are some examples of how the Sapir-Worf hypothesis has influenced production.
Let me introduce you to the 2017 sci-fi masterpiece "Message".
I will only tell you the introductory part.
A vast spaceship that came from outer space appears on Earth.
And the main character, a linguist, goes there at the request of the US military.
It is a story about trying to interact with two aliens, Hepta bots.
5)
In work, this strong Sapir-Worf hypothesis appears in the interpretation of the three-dimensional structural language used by the aliens.
Moreover, I think it is a case that shows the strength of inspiration that the Sapir-Worf hypothesis gives people, not just a little influence, but in a way firmly integrated into the story.
I'll put the official website in this blog site, so if you're interested in languages and philosophy, check it out.
6)
The book was written by Benjamin Lee Whorf, a linguist born in the United States at the end of the 19th century.
After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, commonly known as MIT, he joined the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, where he worked for the rest of his life.
In other words, his linguistic research was done in his spare time. It is inspiring to hear that he worked as a member of society and did research that greatly impacted his later life.
However, when you hear this, it sounds like he was immersed in research.
The opposite is accurate, and his work was said to be perfect.
7)
Let me tell you an interesting story about him.
Worf, who had become a fire inspector, was inspecting a chemical plant.
Not wanting to reveal the manufacturing process, the factory refused Worf's on-site inspection.
He listened to the product being made and wrote down the chemical formula on a notepad on the spot, surprising the production staff. Of course, he was allowed in without incident.
He is also said to have excelled as an insurance salesman.
8)
The cultural relativism of Franz Boas, the father of cultural anthropology, is indispensable when considering the origins of Worf's thought.
Through his research on the indigenous peoples of North America, he found that language and culture were intimately linked to the racist and evolutionist ideas considered the pinnacle of conventional Western languages, and each language reflected its worldview.
Boas heavily influences both Sapir and Worf.
9)
And the meeting with Sapir decided Worf's future.
When Worf met him, Sapir was already a linguistics guru who had published a book called Language.
At Sapir's suggestion, Worf studied the "Hopi language", which determined his research's direction.
10)
From here, I would like to follow Worf's thought called linguistic relativity.
While working as a fire inspector, Worf had the following experience.
Cigarette butts were thrown into cans labelled as empty petrol drums, igniting the vaporised petrol and causing a massive explosion.
Worf attributed this incident to the following:
The English word "empty" contains innocuous nuances such as "inert" as well as "empty" (zero).
That's why he thought the cigarettes had been thrown in.
In other words, he thought, the speculations generated by language lead to unconscious actions.
11)
Worf further refined his ideas by studying the Hopi language.
Incidentally, the Hopi people, who speak the Hopi language, are one of the American Indian tribes. They are called the People of Peace.
They are also known for prophecies from the present to the future, commonly known as "Hopi Prophecies", which were announced by the Great Spirit.
12)
Material nouns such as water and sand can describe a homogeneous continuum without boundaries in English.
In the Hopi language, however, nouns always refer to specific things.
To express the substance called water, it is necessary to say it with a verb.
Similarly, in English, nouns are used to express time, such as "in the morning" and "it is a hot summer".
In the Hopi language, however, certain adverbs express time, and there are no nouns.
13)
For example, summer means a subjective duration, such as "when the heat comes", and is not objectified as a quantity of time.
Concepts such as mass and time, taken for granted in Western society, do not exist in the Hopi language.
What is important here is that the Hopi language cannot deal with time, but this is not the case.
Using the form of "modality" in the grammar of the Hopi language, we distinguish between "instantaneous events", "continuous events", and "repeated events", and in the "context of events", I can deal with time.
14)
Behind these Hopi languages lies their unique way of perceiving the world.
They believe that each existence has its own "power to sustain existence", and they pay attention to the current state of each fact.
The Hopi deal with matter and time based on their unique worldview.
Worf interestingly said that if the Hopi were to create a physics, it would be a new physics that did not use time and speed in equations, unlike the Western concept of time, which uses dimensions.
15)
And when Western physics and Hopi physics meet this way, he believes that the way we understand the world can be expanded.
Worf describes this as 'the contribution of a linguistic perspective to science'.
This is a significant way of thinking that connects literature and science.
Rereading "Language/Thought/Reality'', Worf did not think that "language determines thought'', but that "language determines the world of habitual thought''.
16)
He believes habitual thought becomes a pattern when fixed as an expression or phrase for analysing and reporting experiences in individual cultures using language.
In other words, language is a large-scale system of such patterns, and what phenomena to pay attention to or ignore and how to formulate reasoning are culturally determined.
17)
I want to point out a fascinating quote from Worf that illustrates this.
The world of thought is a microcosm with which every human being has equipped himself to measure and understand the macrocosm as far as he can.
Worf's theory of linguistic relativity was based on the following ideas.
Human beings can form rational and intellectual thoughts independently of language, and language has only a role in conveying these thoughts.
However, he was highly critical of these ideas.
Instead, Worf believed that by unravelling the links between language and thought, it would be possible to understand the world in a different and new way and to understand cultures that seemed alien to us.
18)
Here is a passage from his paper written in 1941, when Japan entered the Pacific War.
"From the policy of the Japanese government, as far as we can tell superficially, the Japanese way of thinking is unlikely to be associated with fraternity".
"But if you approach the Japanese with an attitude of aesthetic and scientific enjoyment of their language, the situation changes completely."
I think it's a sentence that shows Worf's intellectual honesty.
19)
More than half a century has passed since Worf wrote this paper, and the tools for analysing language have changed dramatically.
Based on the latest findings, the link between language and thought has been re-analysed by the Israeli-born linguist Guy Deutscher, who wrote "Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages.)
20)
The first chapter of this book begins with a strange story about colour from Homer's epic poem.
Homer said that the colour of the sea is like wine. It's not blue.
It is also said that the colour of cows is similar to wine, just like the sea.
And honey is said to be green.
I have never described the sky as blue.
21)
Homer was blind to this mystery.
From the time Homer lived to today, the human colour vision has evolved.
Various theories have been put forward.
A linguist called Latzurus Geiger took up the challenge of the problem.
He compared not only Homer but also the Indian Vedas and the Bible. He discovered that in different civilisations worldwide, the human colour perception had evolved from red to green to yellow and finally to blue.
He also asked a fundamental question: "Does the colour expressed in language affect human vision?"
22)
It was a study by an anthropologist that made me think about this question.
The Berlin Anthropological Society gave the Holmgren colour vision test to Nubians.
The Nubians live in southern Egypt and are known to have no word for blue, calling it black or green.
And he said that the Holmgren colour blindness test is where you are shown coloured yarn and asked to choose the same coloured adventure.
The result of this test was that if the Nubians were shown blue yarn, they could choose the same colour yarn.
In other words, it is possible to identify blue even though there is no word for blue.
23)
Isn't it possible that language influences human perception?
In 2007, a study by a team of researchers from Stanford, MIT and UCLA reported some exciting results.
In English, the word blue is one colour, but in Russian, we use two different blues: light blue and dark blue.
In the experiment, they were shown a spectrum of colours and asked to choose the same colour and time.
24)
The experiment found that, compared to English speakers, Russian speakers were faster at identifying colours when the two blues were named for different colours.
In other words, it suggests the possibility that the words that represent colours affect our perception subconsciously.
Furthermore 2008, researchers at the University of Hong Kong used MRI to study brain activity when people were shown colours.
According to the results, the cerebral cortex of the left hemisphere responded to familiar colour names, while unfamiliar colour names did not elicit such responses.
These facts suggest that Worf's theory that language is regulated unconsciously has been proven.
25)
Next, I want to draw your attention to the Russian linguist Roman Osipovich Jakobson.
He was an influential Prague School of Structural Linguistics member, influenced by the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure.
Claude Lévi-Strauss, the founder of structuralism, is the person who gave birth to structuralism.
The dynamic movement of thought in the 20th century around here is described in detail in his book "My First Structuralism", so please check it out if you like.
26)
Going back to the original story, Jakobson (Roman Osipovich Jakobson) thought that the difference between languages was not what to say but how to say it.
In English, for example, you can say, "I spent last night with a neighbour", without specifying whether it was a man or a woman.
However, speaking French or German, you would have to say whether you were with a male or female neighbour because male and female neighbours exist in separate words.
27)
In other words, language forces speakers to habitually think about what information.
This is precisely what Worf called "an expression in analysing and reporting experiences, " a habit of thinking fixed as a "phrase".
We've seen how language affects concepts of time and mass.
Next, how does language affect our perception of space?
28)
The Australian language Guugu Yimithirr does not use words like "right", "left", "in front of", and "behind".
Instead, it uses directions such as north, south, east and west to describe the position of objects.
For example, "Watch out for giant ants north of your feet".
In other words, the coordinate axis does not rotate when the direction of speech changes, but the coordinate axis is permanently fixed for speakers of Guugu Yimithirr.
29)
This means that even discussing past events, one can similarly remember and talk about north, south, east and west.
And whether space is expressed in egocentric coordinates like English or geographical coordinates like Guugu Yimithirr cannot be explained by the environment in which they live.
30)
For example, the Hai Om, who live in the savannah of Namibia, perceive space in terms of geographic coordinates. In contrast, the Kgalagati, who live in a similar environment in neighbouring Botswana, use egocentric coordinates.
If you look at it this way, you will find that each culture has a certain freedom in how it expresses nature in language and that by being exposed to that language from the time you are born, you can see and understand the world.
It is likely that advances in linguistics and cognitive science research will further deepen the ``connection between language, thought and reality'' that Worf suggested half a century ago.
31)
Next, I would like to see what influence rich ideas have had in fields other than language.
The person I want to introduce here is the American inventor Douglas Engelbart.
He is a giant who made significant contributions to the early development of computers and the Internet, such as the invention of the computer mouse and the development of hypertext and graphical user interfaces.
32)
Influenced by the Sapir-Worf hypothesis, he proposed the Neo-Worf theory that people's intellectual abilities are directly affected by how they manipulate symbols.
For example, writing letters on expensive paper with ink and using a computer that can be written and erased repeatedly will significantly change human cognitive and problem-solving abilities. I think that's a big clue if you think about it.
33)
Well, how was your journey through Worf's thoughts?
Through the modern meaning of Worf's thought and the difference between the Sapir-Worf hypothesis and Worf's, I could convey the connection between language and thought.
Add info)
Q1. Summarize each of the 12 points below:
1. What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
2. some examples of how the Sapir-Worf hypothesis
3. What book was written by Benjamin Lee Whorf?
4. An interesting story about Whorf
5. The meeting with Sapir decided Worf's future
6. What is Worf's thought?
7. A fascinating quote from Worf
8. About the Israeli-born linguist Guy Deutscher
9. The Berlin Anthropological Society gave the Holmgren colour vision test to Nubians.
10. About the Russian linguist Roman Osipovich Jakobson
11. About the Australian language Guugu Yimithirr
12. The American inventor Douglas Engelbart
A1->
1. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is two main reasons for this hypothesis.
One is a strong hypothesis called linguistic determinism.
Their language determines how people think, and different languages have different ways of viewing the world.
The other is a weak hypothesis called linguistic relativity.
This is a milder hypothesis than the strong hypothesis that language somehow affects how we perceive the world.
2. Examples of the hypothesis's influence include the sci-fi movie "Message" and aliens' interpretation of three-dimensional structural language.
3. Benjamin Lee Whorf wrote the book "Language/Thought/Reality" which explores the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
4. Whorf's interesting story involves him listening to a chemical manufacturing process and deducing the formula, impressing the factory staff.
5. After meeting Sapir, who suggested he study the Hopi language, Worf's future was determined.
6. Worf's thought revolves around linguistic relativity and how language influences habitual thought patterns.
7. Worf's theory of linguistic relativity was based on the following ideas.
Human beings can form rational and intellectual thoughts independently of language, and language has only a role in conveying these thoughts.
However, he was highly critical of these ideas.
Instead, Worf believed that by unravelling the links between language and thought, it would be possible to understand the world in a different and new way and to understand cultures that seemed alien to us.
8. Israeli-born linguist Guy Deutscher reanalyzed the link between language and thought in his book "Through the Language Glass."
9. The Berlin Anthropological Society tested Nubians' colour vision using the Holmgren test, revealing the influence of language on perception.
10. Roman Osipovich Jakobson was a Russian linguist who focused on how languages differ in expression rather than content.
11. Guugu Yimithirr, an Australian language, uses cardinal directions instead of terms like "left" or "right" to describe spatial positions.
12. An American inventor, Douglas Engelbart, proposed that manipulating symbols, like writing or using computers, can affect cognitive abilities.
Q2. As Worf states, we are influenced by both language and thought to form our own culture. Does learning each other's languages positively affect learning each other's cultures?
"Worf believed that by unravelling the links between language and thought, it would be possible to understand the world in a different and new way and to understand cultures that seemed alien to us."
A2->Yes, according to Worf, learning each other's languages can positively affect understanding each other's cultures. By delving into the links between language and thought, one can gain a new perspective and better comprehend cultures that may initially seem unfamiliar or foreign. Language is a gateway to understanding and appreciating different ways of thinking and perceiving the world, ultimately fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Q3. Suppose that automatic translation technology advances and we can communicate with people worldwide without learning a foreign language.
If so, can you understand each other's languages and cultures?
Or does speaking the language without learning it produce less good results?
A3-> While automatic translation technology can facilitate communication without needing to learn a foreign language, there are limitations to relying solely on machine translation. While it may help convey basic meanings, nuances, cultural context, and idiomatic expressions can be lost in translation. Learning a language enables a deeper understanding of its culture, traditions, and values, fostering effective communication and cultural appreciation. While technology can aid communication, it may not fully replace the benefits of learning a language for a comprehensive understanding of another culture.
Q4. Suppose we need to learn a foreign language even if we can use the latest technology to translate automatically.
Is it the same for simple travel conversations or routine business conversations?
Why not learn a foreign language only when you want to have a closer relationship or understand a more profound culture?
A4-> Learning a foreign language, even with advanced translation technology, has advantages regardless of the nature of the conversation. Knowing the local language allows for more effective and meaningful communication, helps build rapport, and demonstrates respect for the culture for simple travel conversations or routine business interactions. Language proficiency enables better comprehension of context, nuances, and cultural sensitivities, leading to smoother interactions. Learning a foreign language also provides a deeper connection and appreciation for the culture, fostering stronger relationships and a more profound understanding of its values and traditions. So, learning a language is beneficial in both casual and more profound cultural contexts.
Q5. Let's say we learned each other's language and culture. And what if, instead of understanding and friendship, resentment and disgust grow? Things that didn't matter when you didn't know each other well, but it doesn't seem like a good result if you start arguing because you know each other better. Do we still need to learn foreign languages?
A5-> Learning foreign languages and cultures is still valuable, even if encountering disagreements or negative emotions is possible. In any form of communication, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise, regardless of language proficiency. However, by learning each other's languages and cultures, we gain a deeper understanding and empathy, which can contribute to better communication and mutual respect. It allows us to approach differences with an open mind, fostering tolerance and the potential for finding common ground. Language learning provides the tools to bridge cultural gaps and promotes greater intercultural understanding, ultimately facilitating more harmonious relationships.
The Sapir-Worf Hypothesis - Linguistics - Language shapes the world of habitual thought!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwCBo6hWWy0&t=972s
The official trailer for the sci-fi movie "Message."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GMGMzHRE4Q&t=0s
Introduction of reference books
Language/Thought/Reality
Different languages make the world look different
[What is the Sapir-Worf Hypothesis] Easy-to-understand explanation from meaning, examples, and criticism
https://liberal-arts-guide.com/sapir-whorf-hypothesis/
What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?
The name "Sapir-Worf hypothesis" is a term coined in connection with the work of linguistic anthropologist Edward Sapir and Sapir's student Benjamin Lee Whorf, who did not name the theory. The term was coined in connection with the creation of Benjamin Lee Whorf, a Sapir scholar.
In this sense, the 'Sapir-Worf hypothesis' is almost synonymous with 'Linguistic relativity theory'. The definition of 'Linguistic relativity theory' is as follows.
The hypothesis is that their mother tongue influences a speaker's thinking and conceptualisation. Different languages are said to have different ways of perceiving and experiencing. It is also argued that language defines the form of culture. This is sometimes taken a step further and called 'linguistic determinism', which emphasises that language determines how people think and perceive.
Worf's anecdote is as follows:
People are cautious around cans marked 'gasoline drums'.
But around cans marked 'empty gasoline drums', people were careless with fire, smoking cigarettes, etc.
Worf attributed this to the fact that the English word 'empty' has the nuance of 'harmless', as in 'zero' or 'inert', as well as 'empty'.
If you speak a different language, the world will look different too. Impressions of the book I read.
By Guy Deutscher. December 5, 2012, First printing published.
https://nonono7.blog12.fc2.com/blog-entry-2187.html