The strong and weak forms of the Whorfian hypothesis state that ____.
A) different cultures share the same basic language structure
B) language either determines or influences thoughts and perceptions
C) every child learns language at a pace that is unique to that child
D) language ability is based on a biological language acquisition device

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Whorfian hypothesis proposes that language either determines or influences thoughts and perceptions. However, there are two forms of this hypothesis: the strong version and the weak version. The strong version suggests that language determines a person's thoughts and perceptions entirely, while the weak version suggests that language only influences them.

The Strong and Weak Forms of the Whorfian Hypothesis State