What is the Whorfian hypothesis primarily concerned with?

The Whorfian hypothesis, also known as linguistic relativity, primarily addresses the relationship between language and perception of reality. It suggests that the language we speak influences how we think and perceive the world around us. According to this hypothesis, different languages can shape our understanding of concepts, categories, and experiences, leading speakers of different languages to view the world in distinct ways.

For example, speakers of languages that have numerous words for different types of snow may notice and categorize snow differently than speakers of languages that use a single term. This concept highlights that language is not merely a tool for communication but also a framework that can shape cognitive processes and cultural perceptions.

Other options focus on different aspects that do not align with the core premise of the Whorfian hypothesis. The influence of mathematics on language pertains to a different area of study, the evolution of language speaks to historical linguistics, and the syntax of different languages is a topic within linguistic structure, rather than the relationship between language and thought.