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Article published In:
Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 8:2 (2019) ► pp.163–171

More refined typology and design in linguistic relativity

The case of motion event encoding

ORCID logo | Radboud University | Tilburg University | Lancaster University
| University of Cincinnati

Linguistic relativity is the influence of language on other realms of cognition. For instance, the way movement is expressed in a person’s native language may influence how they perceive movement. Motion event encoding (MEE) is usually framed as a typological dichotomy. Path-in-verb languages tend to encode path information within the verb (e.g., ‘leave’), whereas manner-in-verb languages encode manner (e.g., ‘jump’). The results of MEE-based linguistic relativity experiments range from no effect to effects on verbal and nonverbal cognition. Seeking a more definitive conclusion, we propose linguistic and experimental enhancements. First, we examine state-of-the-art typology, suggesting how a recent MEE classification across twenty languages (Verkerk, 2014) may enable more powerful analyses. Second, we review procedural challenges such as the influence of verbal thought and second-guessing in experiments. To tackle these challenges, we propose distinguishing verbal and nonverbal subgroups, and having enough filler items. Finally we exemplify this in an experimental design.

Keywords: linguistic relativity, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, lexicalization patterns, motion event encoding, motion language, cognitive semantics, language typology, linguistics, psycholinguistics, methods
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Motion event encoding
  • 3.Linguistic relativity
  • 4.A novel experimental approach
    • 4.1Methods
      • 4.1.1Participants
      • 4.1.2Materials
      • 4.1.3Procedure
      • 4.1.4Analysis and hypotheses
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Published online: 11 April 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dujal.15019.ber
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Cited by

Cited by 1 other publications

Zaychenko, Katharina
2022. Grammatical and cognitive factors shaping the conceptualization of motion events. Languages in Contrast 22:1 ► pp. 136 ff. DOI logo

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