Studies And Interpretation Of Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis In China

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is a rather controversial and influential theory.It intrigues scholars of many different sub-disciplines of linguistics such as sociolinguistics,anthrolinguistics,cognitive linguistics,phycholinguistics,and cultural linguistics.However,on the one hand,since its introduction into China in 1950s,Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis has been interpreted by different Chinese scholars inconsistently to Whorf’s original statement,and the interpretations are quite different from Whorf’s statement.On the other hand,due to the influence of the Cultural Revolution,Chinese scholars’ studies of the Hypothesis get a late start,which brings about the gap between studies of the Hypothesis in China and those abroad.At present most studies of the Hypothesis in China either review the origin of the Hypothesis or discuss the validity of the Hypothesis.The researches on Chinese scholars’interpretations of the Hypothesis and the studies of the gap exists between Chinese scholars’ studies and those studies abroad are relatively few.This thesis aims to investigate the interpretation and studies of the Hypothesis in China.Adopting the documentary method as well as the contrastive method,the thesis reviews Chinese scholars’ works concerning the Hypothesis.Based on Language,Thought and Reality,a collection of Whorf’s selected writings,this thesis analyzes and interprets Whorf’s original statement of the Hypothesis.Then through contrasting Chinese scholars’ interpretation of the Hypothesis with Whorf’s original works,and contrasting Chinese scholars’ studies of the Hypothesis with those studies abroad,this thesis points out the status of Chinese scholars’ interpretation and studies of the Hypothesis.Through contrasts and analysis,the thesis draws the following conclusions.Under the historical background of China before the 1980s,Chinese scholars’ works concerning the Hypothesis are few,and they could hardly interpret the Hypothesis objectively.Almost all Chinese scholars evaluate the Hypothesis in a critical attitude.After the 1980s,the number of Chinese scholars’ works greatly increases,and the interpretation gradually becomes objective and faithful.What is more,the value of the Hypothesis is admitted in the works of many sub-disciplines of linguistics by Chinese scholars.However,what cannot be denied is that misinterpretation of the Hypothesis still exists among Chinese scholars.In terms of the studies of the Hypothesis,there is a gap between Chinese scholars’ studies of the Hypothesis and those studies abroad.Chinese scholars’ studies of the Hypothesis are not only small in number,but also lack of originality and creativity.Most of Chinese scholars’ works are introductory or reviewing,while investigative works are relatively few.The gap is particularly obvious when the empirical studies of the Hypothesis are taken into consideration.Findings of this thesis have enlightenment significance for the researching directions and methods of the Hypothesis in the future.