Rethinking Linguistic Relativity [Paperback]

This book reexamines ideas about linguistic relativity in the light of new evidence and changes in theoretical climate.Linguistic relativity is the claim that culture, through language, affects the way in which we think, and especially our classification of the experienced world. This work re-examines ideas about linguistic relativity in the light of new evidence and changes in theoretical climate.Linguistic relativity is the claim that culture, through language, affects the way in which we think, and especially our classification of the experienced world. This work re-examines ideas about linguistic relativity in the light of new evidence and changes in theoretical climate.Linguistic relativity is the claim that culture, through language, affects the way in which we think, and especially our classification of the experienced world. This book reexamines ideas about linguistic relativity in the light of new evidence and changes in theoretical climate. The editors have provided a substantial introduction that summarizes changes in thinking about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis in the light of developments in anthropology, linguistics and cognitive science. Introductions to each section will be of especial use to students.1. Introduction: linguistic relativity re-examined John J. Gumperz and Stephen C. Levinson; Part I. Linguistic determinism: the interface between language and thought: 2. Empirical research and linguistic relativity John A.Lucy; 3. From 'thought and language' to 'thinking for speaking' Dan I. Slobin; 4. Intra-speaker relativity Paul Kay; 5. Imaging in iron, or thought is not inner speech Charles M. Keller and Janet Dixon Keller; Part II. Universals and variation in language and culture: 6. The origin of children's spatial semantic categories: cognitive versus linguistic determinants Melissa Bowerman; 6. Relativity in spatial conception and description Stephen C. Levinson; 9. Cognitive limits to conceptual relativity: the limiting-case of religious ontologl�