Review Chapter 7 before responding to the following questions:
- Do you agree with some of the criticisms scholars have offered against the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis? How important is language in shaping our worldview? How important is our worldview in shaping language development? Make a case either for or against the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
- Your text has made the suggestion that generally positive forms of language, like humor, can sometimes have negative consequences, and that generally negative forms of language, like profanity, can sometimes be positive. This point illustrates how much the effects of language depend on the context in which it is used. In your response, explain this point by using concrete examples of humor (both positive and negative). Then, extend your discussion to the other forms of speech discussed in the chapter, including euphemism, slang, libel, slander, and hate speech. Is it true that each of these forms of language could have either positive or negative effects, depending on the context?
Sample Solution
