PSY 357 EXAM 2 GVSU QUESTIONS
COMPLETE WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
\.Understand how the assumptions made by Orwell in 1984 illustrate the concept
of linguistic determinism. - ANSWERS-The words that are available to us will
determine how we think. If these words go away, we won't have those thoughts.
Linguistic determinism is the concept that language and its structures limit and
determine human knowledge or thought, as well as thought processes such as
categorization, memory, and perception.
\.How many words do Eskimos have for snow, according to Whorf? How many
words to
Eskimos have for snow, according to Pullum? Is it truly different than the number
of words that
any other culture has for snow? - ANSWERS-Whorf believes there are at least 7
different words for snow that Eskimos use.
Pullum believes that there are 2 different words for snow that Eskimos use.
It is not truly different than what other cultures have for snow. In fact, English may
have more words than Eskmos do, such as snow, slush, sleet, blizzard, etc. Pullum
suggests that this is the case because Eskimos expect snow to be their
background. Even beach bums, Pullum says, only have one word for sand.
, \.What sequence of events led to so many reputable sources being wrong about
the number of
Eskimo words for snow? What role did Whorf himself play in this sequence? What
have been the
consequences of this sequence of events, in terms of common cultural
(mis)understandings about
the facts of this phenomenon? - ANSWERS-According to Laura Martin:
People are very apt to believe anything about other cultures that are unfamiliar,
so it is not surprising that the rumor continues.
Franz Boas started the rumor by likening the multitude of words to using the same
root in English for various forms of water.
Then, Benjamin Whorf made bold claims that Eskimos have far many more words
for snow than English does and he inflated Boas' number from four to seven.
This claim was reprinted many times.
It ended up being refuted by Roger Brown who said there are only three words for
snow (even tho his claim is misguided according to Pullum, perhaps because he
read the report wrong).
Carol Eastman- there are many words. False reports then continued.
Martin documents 9-200 words. Pullum says that it is an unpopular opinion to say
the truth now with all of this false info.
\.Know in detail how each of these supports or does not support the Sapir-Whorf
hypothesis:
__a) Whorf's observation that Eskimos have many words for snow - ANSWERS-
Doesn't support the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis because they don't actually have
more words than in English for snow. He does not discuss an enriched knowledge
COMPLETE WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
\.Understand how the assumptions made by Orwell in 1984 illustrate the concept
of linguistic determinism. - ANSWERS-The words that are available to us will
determine how we think. If these words go away, we won't have those thoughts.
Linguistic determinism is the concept that language and its structures limit and
determine human knowledge or thought, as well as thought processes such as
categorization, memory, and perception.
\.How many words do Eskimos have for snow, according to Whorf? How many
words to
Eskimos have for snow, according to Pullum? Is it truly different than the number
of words that
any other culture has for snow? - ANSWERS-Whorf believes there are at least 7
different words for snow that Eskimos use.
Pullum believes that there are 2 different words for snow that Eskimos use.
It is not truly different than what other cultures have for snow. In fact, English may
have more words than Eskmos do, such as snow, slush, sleet, blizzard, etc. Pullum
suggests that this is the case because Eskimos expect snow to be their
background. Even beach bums, Pullum says, only have one word for sand.
, \.What sequence of events led to so many reputable sources being wrong about
the number of
Eskimo words for snow? What role did Whorf himself play in this sequence? What
have been the
consequences of this sequence of events, in terms of common cultural
(mis)understandings about
the facts of this phenomenon? - ANSWERS-According to Laura Martin:
People are very apt to believe anything about other cultures that are unfamiliar,
so it is not surprising that the rumor continues.
Franz Boas started the rumor by likening the multitude of words to using the same
root in English for various forms of water.
Then, Benjamin Whorf made bold claims that Eskimos have far many more words
for snow than English does and he inflated Boas' number from four to seven.
This claim was reprinted many times.
It ended up being refuted by Roger Brown who said there are only three words for
snow (even tho his claim is misguided according to Pullum, perhaps because he
read the report wrong).
Carol Eastman- there are many words. False reports then continued.
Martin documents 9-200 words. Pullum says that it is an unpopular opinion to say
the truth now with all of this false info.
\.Know in detail how each of these supports or does not support the Sapir-Whorf
hypothesis:
__a) Whorf's observation that Eskimos have many words for snow - ANSWERS-
Doesn't support the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis because they don't actually have
more words than in English for snow. He does not discuss an enriched knowledge
