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From Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis to Foreign Language Learning i From Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis to Foreign Language Learning

Abstract

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which studies the relationship between language and thought,it has played a leading role in the academic world for a long time. Some scholars claim that people's thought was influenced, directly and definitely, by language. But some stick to the view that this hypothesis is characterized by the following shortcomings: the exaggeration of the function of language, the limited explanatory ability, the ignorance of diachronic change and language and the lack of ability to explain language variance. But after the analysis of the linguistic features of Chinese and English, as well as their respective modes of thought, both the strong and weak version seems invalid. Maybe it is more correct to say that language is the carrier of thought and reflects thought. Language and thought interact with each other. Though the relationship between language and thought is hard to define, the study itself has its implications for foreign language teaching and learning: in concept understanding, in syntax study or discourse study, as well as in vocabulary study, will be more effective if it is from different cognitive perspectives and different modes of thought.

Contents

Chapter I Introduction to Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (1)

Chapter II Contrastive linguistic features of Chinese and English (2)

2.1 Parataxis an d Hypotaxis (2)

2.2 Active and Passive (3)

2.3 Dynamic and Static (3)

2.4 Person and Imperson (4)

Chapter III Contrastive thinking-patterns of Chinese and English (4)

3.1 Ethics and Cognition (4)

3.2 Synthetic and Analytic............... . (5)

3.3 Intuition and Evidence (5)

3.4 Figurative thinking and Logic thinking (5)

Chapter IV Relationship between language and though t (6)

Chapter V The implication of Relationship between language and thought on foreign language learning (7)

5.1Conceptuallevel (7)

5.2 Word level (8)

5.3 Syntactic level (8)

5.4 Textual level (9)

Chapter VI Conclusion (9)

References (10)

From Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis to Foreign Language Learning

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which studies the relationship between language and thought. It has two versions-------the strong version, language determinism and the weak version--------language relativism. It holds that language shapes thought, and at least influences thought, but I content that language is the manifestation of thought. has its implications for foreign language teaching and learning: learning, in concept understanding, in syntax study or discourse study, as well as in vocabulary study, will be more effective if it is from different cognitive perspectives and different cultures.

Learning a foreign language, Chinese or English, it’s learning how to use the foreign language as a tool for second mode of thought. So the comparison of the two different thinking-patterns is beneficial and essential to master the target language and improve ability of second mode of thought. For example, it will give the guide to the teaching of second language and the writing of composition. Of course mode of thought belongs to philosophy. So it is a very complicated concept, and to go deep into it will need a very long time and also requires many efforts.

Chapter I Introduction to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is a theory put forward by the American anthropological linguists Sapir and Whorf. It states that language determines thought and speakers of different languages perceive and experience the world differently.

As a very influential but also extremely controversial theory that has ever been made in the study of the relationships between language and culture. It has played a leading role in the