Popularizing linguistic relativity
This paper distinguishes three phases in the popularization of linguistic relativity: the phase initiated by Benjamin Lee Whorf himself; a second phase during which linguistic relativity was formulated and tested as a research hypothesis; and the current phase during which language-relativistic assu...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Diacronia
2020-06-01
|
Series: | Diacronia |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.diacronia.ro/ro/journal/issue/11/A160/en/pdf |
id |
doaj-73fe0aa925784740b20ab4c3c06b780a |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-73fe0aa925784740b20ab4c3c06b780a2020-11-25T03:37:30ZengDiacroniaDiacronia2393-11402020-06-011110.17684/i11A160enA160/enPopularizing linguistic relativitySpiros A. Moschonas0Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Sofocleous Str., 10559 Athens, GreeceThis paper distinguishes three phases in the popularization of linguistic relativity: the phase initiated by Benjamin Lee Whorf himself; a second phase during which linguistic relativity was formulated and tested as a research hypothesis; and the current phase during which language-relativistic assumptions have penetrated the mass media. To diagnose the spread of relativistic assumptions, 560 articles in both English and Greek print and electronic media were considered. The articles were published over the period 2010–2019. They fall, roughly, into eighteen categories. Some of the articles report explicitly on linguistic relativity research, while others presuppose language-relativistic ideas in handling issues as disparate as the effectiveness of managerial discourse, the appropriateness of political correctness, or the possibility of communicating with aliens. The large number of article categories as well as the tacit assumption of linguistic relativity in a growing number of articles are indicators of how popular linguistic relativity has become in folk-linguistic discourse.http://www.diacronia.ro/ro/journal/issue/11/A160/en/pdflinguistic anthropologypsycholinguisticsethnolinguisticshistory of language |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Spiros A. Moschonas |
spellingShingle |
Spiros A. Moschonas Popularizing linguistic relativity Diacronia linguistic anthropology psycholinguistics ethnolinguistics history of language |
author_facet |
Spiros A. Moschonas |
author_sort |
Spiros A. Moschonas |
title |
Popularizing linguistic relativity |
title_short |
Popularizing linguistic relativity |
title_full |
Popularizing linguistic relativity |
title_fullStr |
Popularizing linguistic relativity |
title_full_unstemmed |
Popularizing linguistic relativity |
title_sort |
popularizing linguistic relativity |
publisher |
Diacronia |
series |
Diacronia |
issn |
2393-1140 |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
This paper distinguishes three phases in the popularization of linguistic relativity: the phase initiated by Benjamin Lee Whorf himself; a second phase during which linguistic relativity was formulated and tested as a research hypothesis; and the current phase during which language-relativistic assumptions have penetrated the mass media. To diagnose the spread of relativistic assumptions, 560 articles in both English and Greek print and electronic media were considered. The articles were published over the period 2010–2019. They fall, roughly, into eighteen categories. Some of the articles report explicitly on linguistic relativity research, while others presuppose language-relativistic ideas in handling issues as disparate as the effectiveness of managerial discourse, the appropriateness of political correctness, or the possibility of communicating with aliens. The large number of article categories as well as the tacit assumption of linguistic relativity in a growing number of articles are indicators of how popular linguistic relativity has become in folk-linguistic discourse. |
topic |
linguistic anthropology psycholinguistics ethnolinguistics history of language |
url |
http://www.diacronia.ro/ro/journal/issue/11/A160/en/pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT spirosamoschonas popularizinglinguisticrelativity |
_version_ |
1724545565033758720 |