The concept of linguistic relativity, often associated with the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, posits that the structure of a language influences its speakers' cognition and perception of the world. While strong versions of this hypothesis, suggesting that language determines thought, have been largely discredited, contemporary research supports a weaker form. For instance, studies on color perception show that speakers of languages with distinct color terms, such as Russian's differentiation between light and dark blue, exhibit faster and more categorical discrimination between those colors than speakers of languages lacking such distinctions. However, these effects are typically limited to tasks requiring verbal memory, and they diminish when participants engage in non-verbal interference tasks. Thus, language appears to serve as a tool for thought rather than a prison, shaping habitual attention but not constraining fundamental cognitive abilities.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es el consenso científico actual respecto a la relatividad lingüística?
A. A) El lenguaje determina completamente cómo los individuos perciben y piensan sobre el mundo.
B. B) El lenguaje no tiene un impacto medible en la cognición o la percepción.
C. C) El lenguaje influye en ciertos procesos cognitivos, pero no los restringe por completo.
D. D) Los efectos del lenguaje en el pensamiento solo se observan en tareas de percepción del color.
✅ 正确答案
C) Language influences certain cognitive processes, but does not entirely restrict them.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first