The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. Verbalism or Science? A Reply to the Critique by Helmut Durbeck

Objections to Helmut Durbeck's essay (see LLBA X/2, 7600915) are presented. Many inappropriate generalizations were made & both L. Weisgerber's & B. L. Whorf's formulations were misinterpreted. The testing of Whorf's theories on Hopi language carried out by the author are ignored, & passages on other topics (taken out of context) are criticized. Whorf's notion of World Image is clarified by distinguishing between scientific, ideological, linguistic, & pre-scientific World Image. With regard to the debate over color terms & color cognition, nonexistent disagreements are mentioned, & previous work by the autHor on the subject ignored. Lang is not seen as dependent on thinking, although the connections between language & thinking are complex, since it is even difficult to define the concept 'thinking'. Even psychologists are cautious in explaining cognitive processes, & the linguist is entirely justified in cautiously searching for answers (rather than pretending to know these answers). Sections acknowledging the lang's influence on human thinking & feeling are in agreement with the author's position. Other sections show bias & falsification, & are intellectually dishonest. S. Whittle