Linguistics Language can directly impact, if not totally constrain, perceptions and cognitions, according to the Sapir-Whorf linguistic relativity hypothesis. Ample evidence supports the hypothesis, as conceptualizations of reality and events are experimentally different in different language contexts, evaluated by testing native speakers of different languages and requesting their interpretation of various events. For example, language impacts perceptions of colors, which can in turn impact salient issues in the perception of reality (Jraissati, 2013). Implications of color differentiation differences may be witnessed in the worlds of art, business, and design. Lai & Narasimhan (2015) show that different languages conceptualize motion differently, with some languages like Spanish concentrating more on the directionality or path of motion, versus languages like English, which emphasize the manner or methods of a motion. It is easy to see why differential motion perceptions might influence witness perceptions of a crime, which is why officers of the law may need to pay closer attention to linguistic relativity when interviewing witnesses and suspects. Language can influence heavily one's perception of other people and other cultures. For example, Chen, Benet-Martinez & Ng (2014) found that bilingual speakers exhibit a...
other. Being bilingual therefore makes it more possible for people to relate to or accept other cultures, given the expanded worldviews the additional language confers. The implications for research on linguistic relativity are important for politics and sociology.Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now