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Article published In: Historiographia Linguistica
Vol. 37:3 (2010) ► pp.341–377

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On “Eskimo Words for Snow”

The life cycle of a linguistic misconception

 | Western Institute
 | Adam Mickiewicz University
Published online: 17 November 2010
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https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.37.3.03cic
Summary
This article examines the complex interdependence of linguistics and the discourses of social sciences and philosophy based on the example of the Eskimo words for snow. In particular, we trace the life cycle of the example through three phases: (1) the origin of the misconception in the studies of Franz Boas (1858–1942) and Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941); (2) its propagation in textbooks and in sympathetic and alternative theoretical contexts, and (3) the contemporary status quo following the exposition of the misconception by Laura Martin (1986), Geoffrey Pullum (1989) and Steven Pinker (1994, 2007). Further, we examine the theoretical and methodological shortcomings of the exposition, and their implications for the poverty of critical and impartial discussion on the nature of linguistic categorization and its cognitive implications, as originally discussed by Boas and Whorf.
Résumé
Cet article examine l’interdépendance complexe de la linguistique et des discours des sciences sociales et de la philosophie, en se basant sur l’exemple du mot esquimau pour neige. Nous retraçons en particulier le cycle de vie de cet exemple à travers trois phases : (1) l’origine de la conception erronée dans les études de Franz Boas (1858–1942) et de Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941) ; (2) sa propagation dans des manuels et des contextes théoriques marqués par l’empathie et de type alternatif ; (3) le statu quo contemporain, suivant la mise en évidence de cette conception erronée par Laura Martin (1986), Geoffrey Pullum (1989) et Steven Pinker (1994, 2007). Nous examinons en outre les carences théoriques et méthodologiques de cette mise en évidence et leurs conséquences pour l’absence d’une discussion critique et impartiale sur la nature de la catégorisation linguistique et ses implications cognitives, telles que débattues originellement par Boas et Whorf.
Zusammenfassung
In diesem Beitrag geht es um die komplexe Interdependenz sprachwissenschaftlicher und sozialwissenschaftlich-philosophischer Sehweisen am Beispiel des Inuit-Wortes für Schnee. Wir gehen den angeführten Beispielen dabei in drei Etappen nach: (1) dem Anfang des Missverständnisses bei Franz Boas (1858–1942) und Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941); (2) der Verbreitung des Missverständnisses über Lehrbücher und über mit ihnen übereinstimmende bzw. von ihnen abweichende theoretische Abhandlungen und (3) dem derzeitigen Stand der Diskussionen bei Laura Martin (1986), Geoffrey Pullum (1989) und Steven Pinker (1994, 2007). Schließlich behandeln wir theoretische und methodologische Mängel der Argumentation und die daraus resultierende Armut an kritischen, unparteiischen Beiträgen, namentlich was die sprachwissenschaftliche Kategoriebildung und ihrer kognitive Implikationen für das anbelangt, was ursprünglich von Boas und Whorf diskutiert worden war.
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