The Sapir - Whorf Hypothesis: Worlds Shaped by Words

Eric Thai

February 18 2009

ANT 1001 TV24A / Gaunt

David S. Thomson. "The Sapir - Whorf Hypothesis: Worlds Shaped by Words"

"The Sapir - Whorf Hypothesis: Worlds Shaped by Words" by David S. Thomson brought to attention the many effects of communication and language. The Sapir - Whorf Hypothesis stated that "each language is not merely a reproducing instrument for voicing ideas but rather itself the shaper of ideas" (Thomson 115). Whorf based his hypothesis on the Hopi who's language did not contain the past present and future we have in our Indo-European languages.Unfortunately Whorf died a young age of forty-four and this hypothesis has been debated constantly (Thomson 115).

The Sapir - Whorf Hypothesis makes complete sense in the fact that many words or phrases from another language cannot be translated. The book has a few example of German and French words that cannot be exactly translated into English without at least three words combined. As a speaker of Chinese there are a few phrases we cannot translate to English as well. We have a phrase in Chinese that if directly translated to English is "hot air". This phrase is used to describe various kinds of foods such as deep fried food, greasy food, and certain fruits, that the Chinese believe if over eaten will cause sore throat, or coughing. Although I can related that there are certain elements in languages that are unique to their own, it is hard to believe that different languages cause different ways of thinking. Like in the case of the speakers in Shona who only have three divisions for color, it is hard to take a step back and imagine our life with the absents of a name for blue or green. Thus although I don't dispute The Sapir - Whorf Hypothesis nor do I support it, I accept it as another hypothesis that describes our human thinking.

I was extremely interested in the discussion on euphemism, where they show how humans manipulate language to make something bad seem good. Everyday terms we use are examples of euphemism such as bathroom or restroom that we use to replace the vulgar word toilet or the extremes such as naming missiles peacekeepers to make a dangerous weapon sound less destructive (Thomson 122). Though sometimes misused language can be a powerful weapon because of how it affects human thinking. Language and communication is important for humans to get our thinking across to one another and share our ideas.

Bibliography

Thomson, David S. "The Sapir - Whorf Hypothesis: Worlds Shaped by Words" In Conformity and Conflict: Readings in Cultural Anthropology, 12 ed. Spraley and McCurdy. Allyn & Bacon. 2006. 113-125.