Linguist Dr. Sarah Park studies how language influences thought. She argues that people who speak languages with elaborate systems for describing spatial relationships think about space differently than speakers of languages with simpler spatial terms.
Which experimental result would best support Park's hypothesis?
Some languages have more words for colors than others
Speakers of languages with absolute direction terms (like north/south) performed significantly better on navigation tasks than speakers of languages using relative terms (like left/right), even in unfamiliar environments
Children learn spatial words before they learn abstract concepts
Most languages have words for above and below
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. This shows linguistic differences (spatial terms) correlating with cognitive differences (navigation ability).
- Context clues: Park claims language differences cause thinking differences.
- Evidence evaluation: Different spatial terminology → different navigation performance.
- Verify: Testing in unfamiliar environments controls for cultural experience.
💡 Strategy: Language-thought claims need behavioral differences that match linguistic differences.
Choice A is incorrect because color words are a different domain than spatial terms. Choice C is incorrect because developmental order doesn't prove thought differences. Choice D is incorrect because common words don't distinguish between language systems.