Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

English

Etymology

Named after two researchers, Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Lee Whorf, who observed that linguistic differences have consequences in human cognition and behavior.

Proper noun

the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

1. (linguistics) The hypothesis that the structure of a language affects its speakers' worldview or cognition.

Translations

principle that a language's structure affects its speakers' worldview or cognition

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 薩丕爾-沃爾夫假說 / 萨丕尔-沃尔夫假说 (Sàpī'ěr-Wò'ěrfū jiǎshuō)

• French: hypothèse de Sapir-Whorf f, hypothèse Sapir-Whorf f
• Japanese: サピア・ウォーフの仮説 (Sapia Wōfu no kasetsu)
• Russian: гипотеза Сепира - Уорфа. (gipoteza Sepira - Uorfa.)