Linguistic theory, linguistic diversity and Whorfian economics

Fabb, Nigel; Ginsburgh, Victor and Weber, Shlomo, eds. (2016) Linguistic theory, linguistic diversity and Whorfian economics. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Economics and Language. Palgrave Macmillan Ltd., Houndmills Basingstoke, pp. 17-60. ISBN 978-1-137-32504-4

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Abstract

Languages vary greatly in their words, sounds and sentence structures. Linguistic theory has shown that many aspects of variation are superficial and may not reflect underlying formal similarities between languages, which are relevant to how humans learn and process language. In this chapter, I show both how languages can vary and how the surface variations can be manifestations of underlying similarities. Economists have sometimes adopted a ‘Whorfian’ view that differences in languages can cause differences in how their speakers think and behave. Psychological experiments have shown both support for this hypothesis and evidence against it. Specific arguments that language causes thought, which have been made in recent economics papers, are examined in the light of what linguistics tells us about superficial and underlying variation

ORCID iDs

Fabb, Nigel ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4820-7612; Ginsburgh, Victor and Weber, Shlomo
  • Item type:Book Section
    ID code:55646
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    23 March 2016
    Published
    Notes:Please acknowledge as follows: Fabb, N. (2016). Linguistic theory, linguistic diversity and Whorfian economics. In V. Ginsburgh, & S. Weber (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Economics and Language. (pp. 17-60). Houndmills Basingstoke: Palgrove Macmillan. reproduced with permission of Palgrave Macmillan'. The following statement must also be displayed: 'This extract is taken from the author's original manuscript and has not been edited. The definitive, published, version of record is available here: http://www.palgrave.com/us/book/9781137325044
    Subjects:Language and Literature > Philology. Linguistics
    Department:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > Humanities > English
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:22 Feb 2016 16:49
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 15:03
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/55646
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