Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Language Determines Thought: The Creation of Social Worlds Through Language
As a set of symbols that has specific and shared meanings within society, language is perhaps the most dynamic and oft-used artifact and element of human culture. Through language, humans are able to express their thoughts and emotions, limiting or empowering an individual's thinking process. Language assumes numerous characteristics and functions, which potentially alters and at the same time, develop human thought and expression. As a set of man- made symbols, language is rule-governed, which means that language is uttered not for the mere act of speaking alone, but because there is purpose why a particular word, phrase, or statement is spoken. These rules may be created concerning the order of words, meanings, and manner in which the language is delivered by the communicator/individual. Lastly, language is subjective, which leads to various interpretations and...
With language being subjective and rule-governed, it goes without saying that language is often used as symbols through which people express and create conflicts and/or harmonious relationships with others.
Language as a way of experiencing social realities thus becomes a medium through which societies and cultures are formed. In effect, language, as a cultural and man-made artifact, transforms and creates cultures spontaneously. The way language alters social realities is especially illustrated in Benjamin Whorf and Edward Sapir's hypothesis on language and culture, called the Linguistic Relativity hypothesis. This hypothesis posits that "language determines the structure of thinking and shapes our basic ideas" (Santrock, 2001:277). Through this hypothesis, language helps creates cultures, i.e., social experiences, because it…
Bibliography
Adler, R. (1998). Interplay: Process of Interpersonal Communication. NY: Harcourt Brace & Co.
Santrock, J. (2001). Psychology. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Book Co.
Pinker maintains that evolution follows a branching, rather than linear pattern. Many species develop concurrently, each with their own survival instincts. Humans, and their survival instinct of language, are just one branch of the evolutionary process rather than a pinnacle rung. Holding the belief that we can, or might someday communicate with animals creates empathy, which leads to humane treatment of animals. A belief that animals cannot communicate with us
Creation Myth Analysis Case Study of the History of Biblical Creation Narratives What Is Myth? What Is History? Manetho Josephus Jeroboam Is Genesis 1:1-2:4 Myth? Is Genesis 1:1-2:4 History? Is Genesis 1:1-2:4 Both Myth and History? An Analysis of the Biblical Creation Narrative of Genesis 1:1-25 and Egypt's Possible Influence on the Historical Record God created the world in just six days, and rested on the seventh, but scholars have not rested at all over the millennia in their investigation of
Social work history displays that the desire of social justice is both a task and a myth for employees and their immediate predecessors in organizations. This study provides a critical analysis of Janet Finn's and Maxine Jacobson's work titled "Just Practice." The great focus is on the first and the third chapter where their contributions and critical omissions are identified. Finn and Jacobson have worked hard to illustrate the historical
Computer Assisted Language Learning or CALL, relates to the creation, use, and study of software that is specifically designed to allow for the use of a computer in the teaching and learning of a new language (Jarvis, 2013). Most commonly this is done for people learning English, but it can, theoretically, be used for any language learning process. There are a wide range of communication and information technologies that are
social and cultural impacts of establishing an eco-Tourism enterprise in Joao Pessoa, Brazil. The main focus of the dissertation is on the following areas: An analysis of eco-tourism development An assessment of the opportunities - regional, domestic, international An evaluation of the projects feasibility An examination of the social-cultural impact of the eco-tourism Brazil has a sanctuary of the finest natural resources ("fauna & flora") in the world, and therefore tourism is in ascendence,
social science research are qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative research is believed to operate from a subjective, constructionist view of reality, whereas quantitative research operates from an objective, positivist viewpoint of the world. There has been quite a bit of debate over the merits of each of these approaches, often with one paradigm belittling the assumptions of the other. The current literature review explores the philosophical foundations of