Home › Authors › Benjamin Lee Whorf
Benjamin Lee Whorf Quotes
1897–1941 United States
Benjamin Lee Whorf (April 24, 1897 – July 26, 1941) was an American linguist and fire prevention engineer. Whorf is widely known as an advocate for the idea that because of linguistic differences in grammar and usage, speakers of different languages conceptualize and experience the world differently.
United States Academics Anthropologists Engineers Linguists Also known as: Whorf, Benjamin Lee
Random Benjamin Lee Whorf quote
5 quotes
We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native language.
Language, thought and reality (1956)
We are thus able to distinguish thinking as the function which is to a large extent linguistic.
Language, thought and reality (1956)
Speech is the best show a man puts on.
Language, thought and reality (1956)
The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is fraught with grave possibilities of misunderstanding.
Whorf (1937)
Most metaphysical words in Hopi are verbs, not nouns as in European languages. The verb tunatya contains in its idea of hope something of our words 'thought,' 'desire,' and 'cause,' which sometimes must be used to translate it.
Language, thought and reality (1956)
Topics Benjamin Lee Whorf is quoted on
Works