Practice question · Multiple choice
The strong Sapir–Whorf hypothesis says language determines thought; the weak version says it influences it. Why did evidence force the retreat to the weak version?
Hints
- Ask whether a speaker of a language with two colour terms can see and learn more.
- Determination is a strong word. What single observation is enough to break it?
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B. Because people think about things their language lacks words for
Why
Translation and learning both work, which determination cannot allow, but colour categorisation, spatial reference and grammatical gender all show measurable effects on attention and memory. The weak version survives because the influence is real and the constraint is not absolute.
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