Throughout history, the relation between language and thought has been of interest for scholars of different fields such as philosophy, psychology and linguistics. Whereas Wittgenstein was convinced that language is thought, as “[n]ow it is becoming clear why [he] thought that thinking and language were the same. For thinking is a kind of language,” (1969) others like Pinker (1994) and Fodor (1975) believed there is no relation whatsoever and that thought is independent of language. However, with regard to studies confirming the notion of language indeed having an effect on cognition, the broad consensus is that neither of these extreme approaches is correct and that the truth is situated somewhere in between.
In this context, it is the Sapir–Whorf (or Whorfian) hypothesis–better known as the linguistic relativity hypothesis–that has gained great attention amongst psycholinguists, for at its heart it holds the very idea that the languages we speak at least influence the way we think. Evidence supporting this theory stems from various domains describing differences between languages with respect to perceptions and judgments of concepts, such as quantity, space and time.
In recent decades, however, the grammatical gender of nouns in particular, as one aspect of grammar, has been the focus of investigations and debates on linguistic relativity. Several cross-linguistic studies indicate that speakers of languages which have a gender system tend to assign stereotypical attributes and properties to inanimate objects congruent with their grammatical gender. Though there is empirical evidence substantiating this hypothesis, there is a considerable amount of research findings which show little to no support, which therefore leads to the question whether grammatical gender is a useful tool for the investigation of linguistic relativity after all.
By this token, the present paper will provide a collection of works which outline this discussion, showing that certain aspects need to be taken into consideration when assessing the grammatical gender as evidence for language's influence on thought. The choice of selection is based on the fact that their research findings build up on each other’s content and allow transitions in a logical manner. Definitions and elaborations of linguistic relativity and grammatical gender in the beginning and a recently published review of empirical studies as an outlook for future research ultimately frame this piece of work.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The relation between language and thought
- 2.1 The effect of language on thought
- 2.2 Linguistic relativity - a definition and discussion
- 3. The grammatical gender and its impact on thought
- 3.1 Grammatical gender - a definition
- 3.2 Empirical research on grammatical gender and its effect on the categorization of inanimate objects
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the relationship between grammatical gender and its influence on the categorization of inanimate objects, specifically within the framework of linguistic relativity. It explores the debate surrounding the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and its implications for how language shapes thought. The paper reviews existing research, focusing on studies that investigate the impact of grammatical gender on cognitive processes.
- The relationship between language and thought.
- The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (linguistic relativity).
- The role of grammatical gender in shaping cognition.
- Empirical evidence supporting and contradicting the influence of grammatical gender on categorization.
- A critical assessment of the use of grammatical gender as evidence for linguistic relativity.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the historical debate surrounding the relationship between language and thought, contrasting viewpoints ranging from complete linguistic determinism to the complete independence of thought from language. It introduces the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (linguistic relativity) and its relevance to the study of grammatical gender's impact on cognition. The chapter highlights the ongoing debate about the extent to which grammatical gender influences thought processes, setting the stage for a critical examination of empirical research in subsequent sections.
2. The relation between language and thought: This chapter delves into the different types of effects language can have on thought, as categorized by John Lucy. It distinguishes between semiotic, structural, and functional levels of influence. The structural level, focusing on grammatical and lexical differences across languages, forms the core of the linguistic relativity debate and provides the theoretical foundation for investigating the impact of grammatical gender. The chapter then specifically addresses linguistic relativity, tracing its origins and development, clarifying the nuances between linguistic determinism and relativity, and ultimately highlighting the current understanding that neither extreme position fully captures the complex relationship between language and thought. The concept of "thinking for speaking," proposed by Slobin, is introduced as a more nuanced perspective.
3. The grammatical gender and its impact on thought: This chapter focuses specifically on grammatical gender and its potential effect on thought processes. It begins with a clear definition of grammatical gender. The main focus, however, lies in the presentation and critical analysis of empirical research exploring the connection between grammatical gender and the categorization of inanimate objects. The chapter likely explores studies that both support and contradict the idea that grammatical gender influences how speakers categorize objects, acknowledging the complexities and inconsistencies found in research findings.
Keywords
Linguistic relativity, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, grammatical gender, cognitive categorization, inanimate objects, language and thought, empirical research, cross-linguistic studies.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper investigates the relationship between grammatical gender and its influence on the categorization of inanimate objects. It explores this within the framework of linguistic relativity, examining the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and its implications for how language shapes thought.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the relationship between language and thought, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (linguistic relativity), the role of grammatical gender in shaping cognition, empirical evidence supporting and contradicting the influence of grammatical gender on categorization, and a critical assessment of using grammatical gender as evidence for linguistic relativity.
What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and how is it relevant to this paper?
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, also known as linguistic relativity, proposes that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers perceive and conceptualize the world. This paper examines whether grammatical gender, a linguistic feature, influences how speakers categorize inanimate objects, thus directly testing aspects of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
What types of research are reviewed in the paper?
The paper reviews empirical research focusing on studies that investigate the impact of grammatical gender on cognitive processes. It examines studies that both support and contradict the idea that grammatical gender influences how speakers categorize objects.
How does the paper approach the topic of linguistic relativity?
The paper takes a nuanced approach to linguistic relativity, acknowledging the complexities and inconsistencies in research findings. It avoids extreme positions of linguistic determinism (language completely determines thought) or complete independence of thought from language, instead focusing on a critical analysis of empirical evidence.
What are the different levels of influence language can have on thought, as discussed in the paper?
The paper discusses the different levels of language's effect on thought as categorized by John Lucy: semiotic, structural, and functional. The structural level, focusing on grammatical and lexical differences, is central to the linguistic relativity debate and the investigation of grammatical gender's impact.
What is the concept of "thinking for speaking," and how is it relevant?
The paper introduces Slobin's concept of "thinking for speaking," which provides a more nuanced perspective on the complex interplay between language and thought, acknowledging the influence of language on how we express our thoughts.
What are the main chapters and their content?
The paper includes an introduction establishing the historical debate on language and thought and introducing the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. A chapter on the relationship between language and thought delves into different levels of influence and clarifies linguistic relativity. A chapter on grammatical gender presents and critically analyzes empirical research on its impact on categorization. Finally, a conclusion summarizes the findings.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include linguistic relativity, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, grammatical gender, cognitive categorization, inanimate objects, language and thought, empirical research, and cross-linguistic studies.
- Quote paper
- Seda Demirkaya (Author), 2019, Grammatical gender and its impact on the categorization of inanimate objects, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1305375
