The Role of Natural Language in Cognition: an Analysis of Neowhorfi anism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24310/Contrastescontrastes.v22i1.3422Keywords:
LINGUISTIC RELATIVISM, NATURAL LANGUAGE, MENTAL CATEGORIES, COGNITIONAbstract
The thesis that speakers of different languages show cognitive differences has been supported by linguistics, psychologist and philosophers. Many results suggest that there is a correlation between language and thought, but there is not a precise theoretical explanation of how language infl uences cognition. The aim of this paper is to analyze which explanatory mechanisms give an account of the results. First, I will analyze some empirical studies. Second, I will sketch five possible theoretical explanations. I argue for the theory of re-representation.
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