SapirâWhorf hypothesis (linguistic relativity) MCQs 50 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50 Subscribe 1. The SapirâWhorf hypothesis is also known as: (A) Linguistic Determinism and Relativity (B) Universal Grammar (C) Structural Functionalism (D) Cognitive Neutrality 2. Who are the main proponents of the SapirâWhorf hypothesis? (A) Ferdinand de Saussure and Chomsky (B) Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf (C) BronisĆaw Malinowski and Edward Tylor (D) Franz Boas and Claude LĂ©vi-Strauss 3. The core idea of the SapirâWhorf hypothesis is: (A) Language has no impact on thought (B) Language shapes perception and cognition (C) Grammar rules are universal (D) Communication is identical across all cultures 4. Linguistic relativity suggests that: (A) All languages are structurally identical (B) Different languages influence thought differently (C) Language does not affect behavior (D) Vocabulary is universal 5. Which version of the hypothesis claims that language determines thought completely? (A) Weak version (B) Strong version (C) Cognitive neutrality (D) Minimalist approach 6. The weak version of the hypothesis suggests: (A) Language only slightly influences thought (B) Language determines thought entirely (C) Language has no cultural role (D) Grammar is universal 7. Which term refers to the complete control of thought by language? (A) Linguistic determinism (B) Linguistic independence (C) Universal grammar (D) Pragmatic neutrality 8. The hypothesis is most closely associated with which academic field? (A) Physics (B) Linguistic Anthropology (C) Pure Mathematics (D) Chemistry 9. Which of the following supports linguistic relativity? (A) Color perception differences across languages (B) Identical thought patterns in all cultures (C) Mathematical constants (D) Universal biological instincts only 10. An example often used to support this hypothesis is: (A) EskimoâAleut words for snow (B) Latin grammar rules (C) Binary code in computers (D) Morse code 11. Critics argue that the SapirâWhorf hypothesis: (A) Lacks strong empirical evidence in its strong form (B) Explains universal grammar (C) Has no cultural dimension (D) Denies linguistic diversity 12. According to Whorf, language influences: (A) Only pronunciation (B) How people categorize the world (C) Biological instincts (D) Mathematical formulas 13. Sapirâs view on language was that it: (A) Passively reflects reality (B) Actively shapes how we experience the world (C) Has no cultural function (D) Is fixed and unchangeable 14. Which modern field often revisits this hypothesis? (A) Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science (B) Astronomy (C) Pure Chemistry (D) Architecture 15. A common test for linguistic relativity is: (A) Word association tasks across languages (B) Grammar memorization (C) Silent observation (D) Mathematical computations 16. Whorfâs study of the Hopi language led him to conclude that: (A) They had a unique concept of time (B) They used the same tense system as English (C) Their culture ignored time (D) Language was irrelevant to thought 17. Which concept reflects the weak version of this hypothesis? (A) Bilingual speakers may perceive things differently in each language (B) Language fully determines brain structure (C) Vocabulary is universal (D) Thought is entirely non-linguistic 18. Linguistic relativity emphasizes the link between: (A) Language and perception (B) Biology and language only (C) Language and universal constants (D) Grammar and mathematics 19. Which researcher conducted experiments on color perception supporting relativity? (A) Brent Berlin and Paul Kay (B) Ferdinand Saussure (C) Noam Chomsky (D) Leonard Bloomfield 20. The SapirâWhorf hypothesis challenges the idea that: (A) Thought is universal and language-independent (B) Culture shapes language (C) Language evolves over time (D) Humans share biological traits 21. Which statement aligns with linguistic determinism? (A) Language completely defines our reality (B) Language has no influence on culture (C) Language is only a communication tool (D) Vocabulary and thought are separate 22. Cognitive scientists today generally: (A) Accept the weak form of the hypothesis (B) Fully accept strong determinism (C) Reject all forms of relativity (D) Avoid studying language 23. Which linguistic area often reflects relativity effects? (A) Time, color, and spatial orientation (B) Mathematical formulas (C) Chemical elements (D) Musical notes only 24. The hypothesis was partly inspired by: (A) Franz Boasâ ideas on culture and language (B) Chomskyâs universal grammar (C) Darwinâs evolution theory (D) Newtonâs laws of motion 25. A major critique is that Whorf: (A) Relied on anecdotal evidence (B) Focused on phonetics only (C) Ignored grammar entirely (D) Denied language diversity 26. What does linguistic relativity imply for translation? (A) Perfect translation is sometimes impossible (B) All languages are easily interchangeable (C) Grammar is identical everywhere (D) Translation requires no context 27. Which cognitive ability is often studied for relativity? (A) Memory categorization (B) Pure arithmetic (C) Chemical reactions (D) Mechanical reflexes 28. The hypothesis highlights: (A) The interplay between language, thought, and culture (B) The universal sameness of human perception (C) The elimination of culture in language (D) Grammar as a fixed structure 29. Which of the following does NOT support the hypothesis? (A) Cross-linguistic differences in time metaphors (B) Identical worldviews across all languages (C) Spatial orientation differences among cultures (D) Vocabulary-based worldview shifts 30. The term âlinguistic relativityâ was first coined by: (A) Benjamin Lee Whorf (B) Edward Sapir (C) Wilhelm von Humboldt (D) Ferdinand de Saussure 31. Which culture was often cited for having no pastâpresentâfuture tense distinction? (A) Hopi (B) French (C) Latin (D) Greek 32. One implication of linguistic relativity for AI is: (A) Machines may need culture-specific language training (B) All programming languages are identical (C) Culture does not affect computation (D) AI is immune to language structure 33. Whorfâs famous essay âScience and Linguisticsâ emphasized: (A) The influence of language on scientific reasoning (B) The irrelevance of language to thought (C) Pure phonetic analysis (D) Elimination of cultural context 34. Which type of research is most commonly used to test this hypothesis today? (A) Cross-linguistic experiments (B) Pure grammar drills (C) Chemical lab analysis (D) Genetic mapping 35. Sapir stated that âLanguage is a guide to: (A) Social realityâ (B) Universal grammarâ (C) Mechanical processesâ (D) Cultural neutralityâ 36. Linguistic relativity is often contrasted with: (A) Universalism in cognition (B) Relativity in physics (C) Cultural relativism (D) Natural selection 37. Which example illustrates weak relativity? (A) A culture having many words for snow affects how they describe it (B) People cannot think without language (C) Translation is unnecessary (D) Language and thought are identical 38. The hypothesis has been influential in: (A) Cognitive linguistics and anthropology (B) Nuclear physics (C) Organic chemistry (D) Astronomy only 39. Which element of language is often studied for relativity? (A) Lexicon and semantic categories (B) DNA codes (C) Chemical bonds (D) Musical scales only 40. One practical implication of the hypothesis is for: (A) Cross-cultural communication and diplomacy (B) Physics experiments (C) Chemical synthesis (D) Mechanical engineering 41. The hypothesis suggests that multilingual people: (A) May think differently depending on the language used (B) Always think the same way (C) Cannot adapt cultural perspectives (D) Have identical cognition in all languages 42. Which research finding weakens the strong version? (A) Humans can think abstractly without words (B) Words create the only possible thoughts (C) Bilinguals have no cognitive flexibility (D) Vocabulary fully controls memory 43. Whorfâs studies were mainly based on: (A) Indigenous American languages (B) European Romance languages (C) Ancient Greek texts (D) Asian scripts only 44. A key limitation of Whorfâs research was: (A) Lack of direct empirical testing (B) Overemphasis on syntax (C) Ignoring phonetics (D) Focusing on universal grammar 45. Linguistic relativity impacts how people: (A) Categorize colors and shapes (B) Calculate universal constants (C) Interpret chemical reactions (D) Perform reflexive movements 46. The hypothesis influenced which theory of thought? (A) Relational frame theory (B) Plate tectonics (C) String theory (D) Newtonian mechanics 47. Which modern example supports relativity? (A) Directional languages using cardinal points instead of left/right (B) Identical time expressions in all languages (C) Universal slang (D) Mathematical constants 48. Linguistic relativity does NOT claim that: (A) Language is the only factor shaping thought (B) Language influences perception (C) Culture affects expression (D) Vocabulary impacts worldview 49. Which modern linguist argued against strong determinism? (A) Noam Chomsky (B) Benjamin Whorf (C) Edward Sapir (D) Wilhelm Wundt 50. 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