Rethinking Linguistic Relativity with a Cognative Approach Based on Persian Data

Subject Areas : Persian Language and Literature

Ibrahim Badakhshan ¹ , Hasan Azmoude ²

1 - Assistant Professor in Linguistics, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
2 - Phd student in Linguistics, university of Esfahan

Received: 2011-11-26 Accepted : 2012-02-09 Published : 2012-08-22

Keywords:

Abstract :

In  this  article,  we  investigate  the  relation  between  language  and culture, linguistically and psycholinguistically, excellently dealt with in Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. After portraying the subject, we attempt to elucidate it with the analysis of pros and cons of the views on this area. It will then be claimed that the system of linguistic forms has a strong effect on the world-view of speakers and also acquiring and perceiving of many concepts,  relying  on  rational  and  empirical  evidences  extracted  from known languages such as English, Persian, Arabic and also distant languages such as Hopi, Maya, etc. Based on cognitive approach, we will also try to prove that single concepts and compound concepts, contrary to the assumption, function divergently in thinking process.