语言·思维·认知——再论沃尔夫假说

Language,Thought and Cognition:Rethinking Whorf Hypothesis

沃尔夫假说认为:语言影响甚至决定思维,思维模式随着语言的不同而不同。而“认知”假说则认为:语言和思维的关系虽然十分密切,但它们并非同源,而是有其各自的发展规律。在语言习得过程中,认识先于语言,思维决定语言;在语言使用过程中,存在无需语言外壳的思维。本文在对比上述两种语言思维观的基础上提出了自己的思考。

Whorf Hypothesis holds that language influences and even determines thought. People using different languages have different patterns of thought. In contrast, ＂cognition＂ hypothesis believes that although language and thought are closely related they are not of the same origin and have separate routes of development. In language acquisition, cognition is prior to language and thought determines language while in language use, there is thought that needn＇ t be expressed by language. This paper reconsiders Whorf Hypothesis on the basis of a comparison between the above contradictory theories.