Introduction to Linguistic Relativity

Linguistic Relativity

In this course, Dr Minna Kirjavainen (University of the West of England) explores the concept of linguistic relativity - the idea that the language one speaks influences the way one thinks about reality. We begin with an introduction to linguistic relativity, looking at real life examples of how speakers of different languages express the same reality in different ways. In the second module, we examine the development of the linguistic relativity theory, from Wilhelm von Humboldt to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. In the third module, we consider the effect of syntax on thought. In the fourth, we look at morphology’s relationship to thought. In the fifth module, we explore the effect of labels and categories on how we perceive the world, especially in terms of color. Finally, we consider the effect of linguistic relativity in real-life contexts.

Introduction to Linguistic Relativity

In this module, we introduce the concept of linguistic relativity, focusing on: (i) the fact that speakers of Finnish, Japanese and English will all describe one picture differently, relaying different information depending on language structure, (ii) the idea that language affects non-linguistic cognitive processes, (iii) how children’s development and language learning produces the linguistic relativity effect, and (iv) how culture affects the study of linguistic relativity.