What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

@article{Kay1983WhatIT,
  title={What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?},
  author={Paul Kay and Willett Kempton},
  journal={American Anthropologist},
  year={1983},
  volume={86},
  pages={65-79}
}
  • P. Kay, W. Kempton
  • Published 1 April 1983
  • Linguistics, Psychology
  • American Anthropologist
Experimental evidence from the domain of color perception is presented for a version of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis that is considerably weaker than the version usually proposed. 
View via Publisher
ling.umd.edu
903 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
39
Background Citations
321
Methods Citations
25
Results Citations
27

903 Citations

Correction: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and Probabilistic Inference: Evidence from the Domain of Color
TLDR
This research presents a novel probabilistic procedure that allows for direct measurement of the response of the immune system to earthquake-triggered landsliding.
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and Probabilistic Inference: Evidence from the Domain of Color
TLDR
A probabilistic model that is grounded in a presumed universal perceptual color space and in language-specific categories over that space is explored, and it is shown that this model accounts for language-consistent biases in color reconstruction from memory in English speakers, modulated by uncertainty.
Experience and perception
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, 2007.
Language and perceptual categorisation
The Measuring, Mapping, and Meaning of Pots
The Folk Classification of Ceramics: A Study of Cognitive Prototypes. Willett Kempton. New York: Academic Press, 1981. xvi + 237 pp. $24.50 (cloth).
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis cannot be extended to include differentiation of luminance
Recent research has shown there is psychophysical evidence for the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis as it pertains to color discrimination, showing that differences in semantic language categories could…
The Whorfian mind
TLDR
It is demonstrated that language effects may exist at a level that is literally perceptual, suggesting that speakers of different languages have differently structured minds.
Support for lateralization of the Whorf effect beyond the realm of color discrimination
Exotic Color Categories: Linguistic Relativity to What Extent?
Unusual color categories in non-Western languages appear to support the doctrine of linguistic relativity. However, the universalist hypothesis of color-category evolution can specify the degree to…
Language, thought, and color: Whorf was half right
...
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 27 REFERENCES
A study in language and cognition.
“The Whorf thesis on the relationship between language and thought is found to involve the following two propositions: (a) Different linguistic communities perceive and conceive reality in different…
Whorf and His Critics: Linguistic and Nonlinguistic Influences on Color Memory
The current state of research on language and thought using color as a stimulus is reviewed. Five related experiments that integrate and expand the findings of this previous color research are…
Language, culture, and personality : essays in memory of Edward Sapir
The interconnection between language, culture, and personality is the theme of these essays dedicated to the memory of Edward Sapir, and written by his former students.
Techniques and Problems in the Study of Human Color Perception
  • V. F. Ray
  • Art
    Southwestern Journal of Anthropology
  • 1952
TLDR
A field technique is presented by which anthropologists may gather data on human color perception with scientific precision so that an appropriate attack can be made on the basic problems of color perception.
The structure of the color space in naming and memory for two languages
Color Naming, Color Recognition, Color Discrimination: A Re-Appraisal
The present paper is an attempt to reconcile the results of a number of empirical studies on the relationship between color naming, color recognition, and color discrimination. An earlier study by…
Color Science: Concepts and Methods, Quantitative Data and Formulae, 2nd Edition
TLDR
Theories and Models of Color Vision and Visual Equivalence and Visual Matching are examined, as well as physical data, which confirm the importance of theseories and models.
Basic Color Terms
GREEN; ergo, BLUE is present only when there are 6 bct's or more (Stage V or above). 3. THE EVOLUTIONARY CORRELATION: In view of shortcomings which have been indicated both in empirical research and…
Tarahumara color modifiers: category structure presaging evolutionary change
To name colors, Tarahumara speakers use basic color terms carrying obligatory modifiers. The modifiers specify the grade of membership of a color stimulus in a color category. The internal structure…
THE PERCEPTION OF ATTITUDE RELATIONSHIPS: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALING APPROACH TO THE STRUCTURING OF SOCIAL ATTITUDES
The primary purpose of this study was to see whether a set of perceived attitude relationships could be adequately represented by a dimensional model. The particular attitude area selected for this…
...
...