Self-study
passage 4
Passage A.
P1
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Whorf's claim ·
Native language limits how we think
Weaken Whorf's claim ·
Claim lacks any evidence
P2
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New hypothesis ·
Native language emphasizes certain thinking
Contrast this with Whorf's claim. Whorf said language closes doors on how we think; author says actually, language just pushes us toward certain doors.
Example ·
Of hypothesis in action
Thinking of neighbors along gender lines.
P3
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Effect of grammatical gender ·
People think differently about an object depending on its word's gender
Illustration of effect ·
Masculine words associated with masculine traits; same for feminine words and feminine traits
Examples of various words in German and Spanish. Different word genders produced different associations.
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P4
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Passage B topic ·
How language influences numerical reasoning
This passage also looks at how language affects thinking, but focuses on numeracy
Describe study ·
Subjects lack precise language for number but still have some concept of number
P5
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Implications of study ·
Concept of number does not rely on language for number
Supports a "non-Whorfian" view; i.e., native language does not limit how we think.
Author's clarification ·
Subjects had concept of number but may not have been fully "numerate" (numerically literate)
Author's perspective ·
Study results open to wide interpretation
Having language for number either allows for precise numeracy (Whorfian view) or at least pushes one's thinking in that direction (non-Whorfian, consistent with the views passage A's author).
Passage Style
Analysis by Kevin_Lin
24.
In the first sentence of ███████ ██ ███ ████
a
words
b
topics
c
people
d
relations
e
objects