“语言相对论”:对待文化他者的正确伦理态度

Linguistic Relativity:The Right Attitude Towards the Cultural Other

每一种语言都蕴涵着一种对世界的看法,即世界观。各种世界观没有高下之分,人人平等。力图了解、尊重并敬畏他人眼中的世界,这是一种对待文化他者的正确伦理态度。只有更好、更多地了解他人的语言和文化,只有在与他人的平等对视或对话中,我们才能认识并克服自身的局限和相对性。世界的和平、民主、进步有赖于多姿多彩的不同语言文化系统的共存与融合。以往对萨丕尔-沃尔夫语言相对论的讨论局限在理论理性范围内,忽视了它的实践理性,即它的伦理维度和人文价值。

There implies in each language a particular world view,which is equal to the others and cannot be labeled advanced or primitive. Endeavoring to know and respect the world in the eyes of the cultural Other is a correct attitude toward him. Only by acquiring a good knowledge of the language and culture of the Other and holding them in equality can one overcome one＇ s own limitations. Peace, democracy, and progress in the world depend on coexistence and fusion of various languages and cultures in the world. The ethical dimension of Linguistic Relativity is neglected by previous elaborations on the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis.