Piaget and Sapir-Whorf: Detailed Comparison

This lesson provides a detailed comparison of the two main theories about the relationship between language and thought: Piaget's theory (thought before language) and the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (language shapes thought).

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Piaget's Theory in Detail

Core Argument

Piaget argued that cognitive development drives language development, not the other way around. Children must first develop the underlying cognitive structures (schemas) before they can use language to express those concepts.

Key Evidence

1. Pre-linguistic thought: Infants in the sensorimotor stage (0–2 years) demonstrate sophisticated thinking before they can speak:

• They show object permanence — understanding that hidden objects still exist
• They can solve simple problems — pulling a cloth to reach a toy
• They demonstrate intentional behaviour — using actions to achieve goals

2. Language follows cognitive development: Piaget observed that children's language becomes more sophisticated as their cognitive abilities develop. For example:

• Children do not use words like "more" or "less" until they understand the concept of quantity
• Abstract language does not emerge until the formal operational stage (11+)