The Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis, Essay Example

Summary

According to the article, different people from different cultures approach the world differently as a direct consequence of the language they speak. The linguistic relativity hypothesis consists of two parts, including the fact that language diversity results in significant differences between dissimilar languages and that the structure and words used in a language impacts the ways that its speakers conceptualize the world. Therefore, it can be concluded that people that speak similar languages tend to think more similarly than those with very distinct languages. Since there are more than 5,000 languages in use today, it is important to consider the diverse differences these peoples have with regards to their world view.

Response

“The Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis” provides the reader with an interesting statement because it proposes the idea that individuals with like languages think similarly and individuals with different languages think differently. This is interesting because this phenomenon can be seen in international relations around the world. Countries like England, Australia, and the United States appear to be close allies because they share a common language and therefore a similar culture. Meanwhile, countries like the United States and Saudi Arabia have very distinct cultures and a more challenging time communicating because of language and cultural differences. This concept leads to the idea that international relations may improve if people from different cultures and societies are willing to learn one another’s languages. Ultimately, this will help them develop a better sense of unique cultures, and this increased relatability is expected to help political situations as a result of enhanced communication practices.