The linguistic relativity hypothesis:
A) contends that American Sign Language lacks the formal requirements for language and is relatively impoverished linguistically.
B) is the notion that thoughts and perceptions are influenced by the particular language that is used.
C) proposes that the formal characteristics of a language are relative and not absolute.
D) suggests that the way people think and perceive the world in different linguistic groups influences the formal language that they develop and use.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The linguistic relativity hypothesis states that the language people use influences their thoughts and perceptions. Therefore, option B is the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because American Sign Language is a fully developed language with all necessary formal requirements. Option C is incorrect because the formal characteristics of a language are not relative but rather absolute. Option D is incorrect because it suggests a reverse causality where language development and use influence thinking and perception, which contradicts the linguistic relativity hypothesis.

The Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis