Sapir-Whorfhypothesis

Sa·pir-Whorf hypothesis (sə-pîrʹwôrfʹ, -hwôrfʹ) n.

A hypothesis holding that the structure of a language affects the perceptions of reality of its speakers and thus influences their thought patterns and worldviews.

  [After Sapir, Edward, and Whorf, Benjamin Lee.]

* * *