The notion of linguistic relativity denotes
that the language we speak has an influence on the way we think. More
specifically, it means that properties of our language impact also
non-linguistic cognitive operations. The possibility of such an
influence is certainly one of the most intriguing, yet at the same time
most controversially debated hypotheses in the research on languages.
While the idea of linguistic relativity had been around for much
longer, the beginning of scientific research on the issue is associated
with the works of Benjamin Lee Whorf in the middle of the 20th
century. Since many of his analyses proved to be inadequate, however,
and since universalist views on cognition were on the rise, research on
linguistic relativity fell out of fashion and most linguists adopted the
view that there is in fact little difference in the way we think
regardless of differences in our native languages. Recently however the
situation has changed quite dramatically, as a number of very
interesting empirical findings challenge this consensus and it now seems
that research on linguistic relativity may again be developing into a
robust enterprise.
It is the aim of this course to discuss the implications of these
more recent empirical approaches to the issue, focusing on a selection
of research domains, such as the impact of different time metaphors on
perception, the conceptualization of motion events and possible
influences of grammatical gender on the perception of objects.
Requirements for CPs and/or for exam
registration are assignment(s) that need to be handed in over the course
of the semester (details will be announced in the first session of the
semester) plus your active participation in in-class activities. Your
participation has to be documented by extra written work if you miss
more than 2 sessions. |