Whorf, Benjamin Lee

Benjamin Lee Whorf was a linguist who proposed that the language people speak influences their thought processes and worldview. He argued that language shapes how individuals perceive reality, meaning that the structure and vocabulary of a language can affect cognition and perception. This idea, known as linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (co-developed with Edward Sapir), suggests that speakers of different languages may experience the world differently because of their linguistic differences. Whorf’s work emphasized the powerful connection between language, thought, and culture, highlighting the impact of language on human experience.