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Edward Sapir Quotes

American - Scientist | January 26, 1884 - February 4, 1939

No important national language, at least in the Occidental world, has complete regularity of grammatical structure, nor is there a single logical category which is adequately and consistently handled in terms of linguistic symbolism.

World Language Important Structure

No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality.

Reality Two Same Social Ever

It is no secret that the fruits of language study are in no sort of relation to the labour spent on teaching and learning them.

Learning Language Secret Study Sort

More and more, unsolicited gifts from without are likely to be received with unconscious resentment.

More Without Resentment Gifts Likely

Human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood, but are very much at the mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression for their society.

Live Alone World Society Language

As a matter of fact, a national language which spreads beyond its own confines very quickly loses much of its original richness of content and is in no better case than a constructed language.

Language Better Beyond Matter Own

We see and hear and otherwise experience very largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation.

Community Experience Choices Language

English, once accepted as an international language, is no more secure than French has proved to be as the one and only accepted language of diplomacy or as Latin has proved to be as the international language of science.

Science Language More Diplomacy Only

In a sense, every form of expression is imposed upon one by social factors, one's own language above all.

Language Own Social Expression Above

National languages are all huge systems of vested interests which sullenly resist critical inquiry.

Inquiry Critical Systems Resist Huge

A standard international language should not only be simple, regular, and logical, but also rich and creative.

Simple Creative Rich Language Only

Cultural anthropology is more and more rapidly getting to realize itself as a strictly historical science.

Science More Realize Historical

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