The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis can be divided into two basic components: Linguistic Determinism and Linguistic Relativity. The first part, linguistic determinism, refers to the concept that what is said, has only some effect on how concepts are recognized by

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Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

It is often thought that the reality expressed in spoken word is the very same as the reality which is perceived in thought. Perception and expression are frequently understood to be synonymous and it is assumed that our speech is based on our thoughts. This idea presumes that what one says is dependant of how it is encoded and decoded in the mind. However, there are many that believe the opposite: what one perceives is dependent on the spoken word. To the followers of this idea, thought is dependant on language. Linguist Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Lee Whorf are known for their part in the popularization of this very principle. Their collective theory, know as the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis or more commonly the Theory of Linguistic Relativity, holds great significance in the scope of all communication theory. The theory also fulfills the criteria, which essentially determine its workability.

The Theory of Linguistic Relativity holds that: one's language shapes one's view of reality. It is a mould theory in that it "represents language as a mould in terms of which thought categories are cast" (Chandler, 2002, p.1). More basically, it states that thought is