Edward Sapir[1884-1939]

• Born in Germany and immigrated into the United States in late 19th century

• Events occuring during this time include the following - Wright Bros. first airplane 1903 - Einstein proposes theory of relativity 1905 - World War I 191 - Panama Canal completed 1920 - Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle 1928

StudiesBA and MA in Germanic Philosophy at Columbia University [1904 +1905]

Linguistic interests were further than this

1907 Sapir studies native american language in Oregon

1908 Sapir studies yana language in northern california

Conducts ethnographic interviews with Ishi

1909 Phd in Anthropology at University of Columbia while the study was just emerging

Life Work

Language 1928

Nootka and various indigenous native american languages

Wishram Chinook, Navajo, Nootka, Paiute, Takelma, and Yana.

Work“Linguistic Drift” Theory

Meets with Benjamin Whorf while instructing at the University of Yale in the 1930’s

Compose the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

Durings the 1940’s this was proved true

Inspired students and was a key force in the establishing anthropological study

Why is language important

communication

cultural preservation

His thoughtsHe believed language was a symbol of human relationship

He believed it was impossible to understand cultural behavioralism without language

Language shapes our perceptions

Interested in abstract connections between personality, verbal expression and socially determined behavior

RelevanceStimulating a topic could lead to exponential amounts of information.

This could be used to raise awareness of smaller aspects of networks

This could be used to raise awareness of lesser known aspects

He receives a degree in a newly developing field