7,000 ways of seeing the world

What is the main argument of John McWhorter in The Language Hoax?

• Language fully determines how we think and perceive the world.

• Grammar and vocabulary reflect a culture’s values.

• Language has only minor effects on thought, and people are mentally alike.

• Eskimos are better at understanding snow due to their language.

Why does McWhorter disagree with the idea that Eskimos perceive snow better because of their language?

• Because they actually have very few words for snow.

• Because English has no words to describe snow

• Because all languages treat snow the same way.

• Because their perception is due to their environment, not their vocabulary.

According to the text, what do modern studies show about the influence of language on thought?

• Language drastically alters how we see the world.

• The influence is measurable but extremely small.

• All languages affect thought in the same way.

• Language completely shapes our intelligence.

.What does McWhorter say about the Hopi language and time markers?

• Hopi has no way of expressing time.

• Whorf was correct about Hopi’s grammar.

• Hopi does express time, and Whorf’s claim was inaccurate.

• Hopi grammar proves that their culture is timeless.

Why does the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis continue to be popular outside linguistics?

• Because it is supported by strong scientific evidence.

• Because people want to believe language makes cultures unique.

• Because it helps explain grammatical structures.

• Because McWhorter himself supports it.

What does sloppy mean in this sentence?

Writers such as George Orwell and Anthony Burgess have embraced versions of it, suggesting that sloppy language leads to sloppy thinking or that grammar influences personality.

• Very detailed and precise

• Careless and messy

• Too long and complicated

• Written in a foreign language

In saying “linguistic differences are the result of historical chance,” what is the meaning of historical chance?

• Changes caused by cultural values

• Innovations introduced by specific inventors

• Politically motivated transformations

• Random or unpredictable developments over time

When the text describes the effects of language on thought as “tiny,” another suitable word would be:

• Trivial

• Perceptible

• Significant

• Plausible