How Language Shapes Perception: A Comparative Study among Languages and a Focus on Gender

The present work aims to explore the theory of linguistic relativity, and its application across different cultural contexts. Although this very topic intersects with various fields of study, including psychology, anthropology, sociology, and philosophy as well, I will approach it from a linguistic perspective, analyzing the impact that language has on thought. This research takes the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis as its starting point and proceeds by examining the theory’s criticisms as well as the evidence supporting it. Specifically, I will mention the three claims of Fishman and provide several examples; then, particular attention will be given to the third claim and the role of gender – both grammatical and semantic - in influencing speakers’ perception. Lastly, I conducted research, in an attempt to address the ambiguities and criticism that have long undermined the theory: the first experiment involves diverse linguistic backgrounds, while the second focuses on the Italian language exclusively, with a specific focus on gender. The results are consistent with previous findings, even if some limitations have been unavoidable, such as the restricted number of respondents. The study concludes by providing further support to the theory of linguistic relativity and proposes future research on how grammatical gender affects perception among bilingual or multilingual speakers.