Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis When initially reading about the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, I actually felt somewhat overwhelmed with interesting information. From prior knowledge of language and culture relations, I fully recognized that it has simply always been understood that the culture of each human being influences his or her own language. I have studied this in several different classes and areas of the curriculum; however, I had honestly never thought about how language had absolutely anything to do with influencing culture. The best and most clear definition that aided me in understanding of what the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis actually is came from our textbook. It reads, “Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf suggested that language is a force in
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The present day Hopi have a very spirited way of living. Hopi people base their way of life and living all around their family. The Hopi culture places great value on family cohesion, stability, generosity, humility, respect, a work ethic of self-reliance, and valuing and honoring the needs of the entire community (2016, March 26). If I were born into a Hopi family, I would still speak English although it would be in an entirely different way. Our textbook states, “In comparing the English language with Hopi, (Benjamin Lee) Whorf pointed out that English language categories convey discreteness with regard to time and space, but the Hopi does not.” (C. Ember, M. Ember, and P. Peregrine, 245). If I had grown up speaking Hopi-English I feel that I would not be able to fully grasp the understanding of distinguishing past, present, and future. Our textbook also states that Hopi expresses things with more of an idea of ongoing processes without time being apportioned into fixed segments (C. Ember, M. Ember, and P. Peregrine, 245). My reflection of this is that I would have a lessened sense of time. Minutes, hours, morning, evenings, etc. would have essentially no meaning to me. I actually feel that I would have a better understanding for living in “the now” if I had grown up speaking the language of the Hopi people. I believe that not having much regard for …show more content…
Hebrew people, past and present, can pretty much be classified as wanders which has an impact on their language in my opinion. (2016, March 26) Hebrew people speak a language called Aramaic. Aramaic turns out to actually be one of the oldest languages in the entire world. The Hebrew use absolutely all of the nouns as either feminine or masculine. Even second-person and plural pronouns are differentiated by gender. I feel that if I were Hebrew and if I lived the pilgrim life, then I would definitely be gender specific. (C. Ember, M. Ember, and P. Peregrine, 245). I use the normal everyday feminine and masculine pronouns everyday, but not nearly as much as they all do.Their people take it to a complete new level! In a way, I sincerely feel that this can be awesome thing. I think that this is an excellent way to display honor and respect based on gender. I personally have many slip-ups when saying “ma’am” and “sir”, which is reasonably okay and understandable where I come from. Although if I were born Hebrew, I would begin learning this language at birth and I would continuously grow in it throughout my life; therefore, slip-ups would not acceptable. By the time I would be around ten years old I believe that I would solely use feminine and masculine nouns. It would be instilled in my mind as a child to use gender based terms.
The present day Hopi have a very spirited way of living. Hopi people base their way of life and living all around their family. The Hopi culture places great value on family cohesion, stability, generosity, humility, respect, a work ethic of self-reliance, and valuing and honoring the needs of the entire community (2016, March 26). If I were born into a Hopi family, I would still speak English although it would be in an entirely different way. Our textbook states, “In comparing the English language with Hopi, (Benjamin Lee) Whorf pointed out that English language categories convey discreteness with regard to time and space, but the Hopi does not.” (C. Ember, M. Ember, and P. Peregrine, 245). If I had grown up speaking Hopi-English I feel that I would not be able to fully grasp the understanding of distinguishing past, present, and future. Our textbook also states that Hopi expresses things with more of an idea of ongoing processes without time being apportioned into fixed segments (C. Ember, M. Ember, and P. Peregrine, 245). My reflection of this is that I would have a lessened sense of time. Minutes, hours, morning, evenings, etc. would have essentially no meaning to me. I actually feel that I would have a better understanding for living in “the now” if I had grown up speaking the language of the Hopi people. I believe that not having much regard for …show more content…
Hebrew people, past and present, can pretty much be classified as wanders which has an impact on their language in my opinion. (2016, March 26) Hebrew people speak a language called Aramaic. Aramaic turns out to actually be one of the oldest languages in the entire world. The Hebrew use absolutely all of the nouns as either feminine or masculine. Even second-person and plural pronouns are differentiated by gender. I feel that if I were Hebrew and if I lived the pilgrim life, then I would definitely be gender specific. (C. Ember, M. Ember, and P. Peregrine, 245). I use the normal everyday feminine and masculine pronouns everyday, but not nearly as much as they all do.Their people take it to a complete new level! In a way, I sincerely feel that this can be awesome thing. I think that this is an excellent way to display honor and respect based on gender. I personally have many slip-ups when saying “ma’am” and “sir”, which is reasonably okay and understandable where I come from. Although if I were born Hebrew, I would begin learning this language at birth and I would continuously grow in it throughout my life; therefore, slip-ups would not acceptable. By the time I would be around ten years old I believe that I would solely use feminine and masculine nouns. It would be instilled in my mind as a child to use gender based terms.