Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Have you heard of the the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis? Have you seen the movie “Arrival”? The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis says that language doesn’t just give us a way to express our thoughts; language actually shapes the way we think. So if we learn a different language, according to this theory, it could actually change the way we perceive reality. That’s the premise of the movie “Arrival.” I’ll try not to give away too much of the plot, but in an nutshell, aliens arrive at various locations on earth simultaneously. The aliens use a language represented by circular shapes and perceive time to be all present. The future and the past are just as accessible to them as the present. One member of the team assigned to interact with the aliens in the US is a linguist. She learns their language, and, well, I said I wouldn’t give away too much of the plot. You can watch some clips from the movie here: Arrival — Sapir–Whorf Hypothesis (Links to an external site.) Minimize Video Over the years, scholars have debated to what extend the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is true. The hard version of the hypothesis, on which “Arrival” is based, says that language radically shapes our thinking. The soft version says that language influences the way we think, but does not control it. What do you think? What evidence do you see for the hypothesis? If you know more than one language well, do you think different thoughts in different languages? Are some words untranslatable? Write a paragraph (4-7 sentences). Worth