NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which concept suggests that language influences but does not fully determine human thought?

1. Linguistic Determinism

2. Cognitive Dissonance

3. Linguistic Relativism

4. Behaviorism

The correct answer is: Linguistic Relativism

The concept that suggests language influences but does not fully determine human thought is linguistic relativism. This theory posits that the language one speaks can shape how they perceive and interact with the world, implying that speakers of different languages may think differently due to the varying structures and vocabularies of their languages. However, it acknowledges that while language plays a significant role in shaping thought processes, it does not entirely constrain or determine them. This distinction is crucial in understanding how culture, experience, and cognition also contribute to how individuals understand their environment and express their thoughts. Linguistic determinism, in contrast, is a more extreme view that argues language entirely shapes thought, which is not the case in linguistic relativism. Cognitive dissonance pertains to the psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs, unrelated to language and thought. Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and does not consider internal thought processes influenced by language. Thus, the idea of linguistic relativism effectively captures the balance of language's influence on thought without claiming it fully dictates thought.