ABSTRACT
Chapter 13 examines the relationship between language, culture and cognition. Can language determine the way we perceive reality? Or does language simply influence the way we see the world? Evidence from languages used in communities which differ culturally is used to discuss these questions and the concepts of verbal hygiene, linguistic determinism and restricted code are critiqued. The chapter discusses how the physical and cultural environment in which it develops influences the vocabulary and grammar of a language, but also demonstrates that the patterns of language use which characterise different cultures provide more complex information and insights into the perceptions, values and beliefs of those communities. The chapter ends by describing a variety of methods of collecting data to illuminate the relationship between language and social perceptions, including social media and online forums.
