Posted by Martin G. on July 13, 1999 at 13:53:44:
In Reply to: Re: The Languages of Pao posted by Nick on July 12, 1999 at 16:12:56:
Matin (me) wrote: "Personally, I think Pinker's right.."
and Nick replied: "That must really cheer him up. The sapir-whorf hypothesis is a sad joke in modern scientific communities."
Tut, tut, tut. Nick, FYI, the WEAK version of the so-called Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is undeniable, a truism - what vocab you use, and even the grammer, influences to a small degree how you think (and very much so, vice versa).
I love it when you quote "modern scientific communities". You forget maybe that I'm a member, having been a linguist (specialising in comparative grammar) for quite a long, long while now. And I still have trouble getting used to the bloodbaths between rival theorists at linguistic conferences....
Dunno whether my support cheers Steve Pinker up; I DO know that he does like support, having been present on occasions where it was lacking.... But then I'm being far, far too serious about this, tut, tut, especially when I think you are paying me the highest compliment by imitating my general style of posting now.
Terry, thanks for your interesting comments. I will write more to that soon.