What is linguistic relativity?

Linguistic relativity is a theory which asserts that a person's view of reality is shaped to a large extent by the linguistic system of the language used.
Benjamin Lee Whorf. (2008). Microsoft Encarta 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

Proponents of Linguistic Relativity

Franz Boas (1858 1942)

Edward Sapir (1884 1939)

Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897 1941)

Who is Franz Boas?

Considered by many as the father of anthropology in the United States, Franz Boas studies aimed at invalidating racist opinions about languages. While other scholars contended that other languages where more grammatically and therefore scientifically complex and more logical than others, Boas asserted that all languages are equally logical and complex.
Ahearn, L. M. (2011). Living Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley and Sons.

Who is Edward Sapir?

Edward Sapir is a student of Boas and the founder of ethnoliguistics, which deals with the study of the relationship between language and culture. In his studies, he asserted that man perceives the world principally through language.
Sapir, Edward. (2011). Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopdia Britannica.

The fact of the matter is that the 'real world' is to a large extent unconsciously built up on the language habits of the group. No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality. The worlds in which different societies live are distinct worlds, not merely the same world with different labels attached to it.
- Edward Sapir

Who is Benjamin Lee Whorf?

Benjamin Lee Whorf is a student of Sapir. His studies further developed the assertions of Boas and Sapir (Ahearn, 2011). His research on the difference between the Native American language of Hopi and Standard Average European (SAE) led to the conclusion that a persons view of reality is greatly influenced by the linguistic structure of his language (Microsoft Encarta, 2008).
Benjamin Lee Whorf. (2008). Microsoft Encarta 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

The Whorfian Hypothesis

the theory that the structure of a language helps determine how its native speakers perceive and categorize experience
Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (The strong but the wrong version)

Language
Thought

Whorfian Hypothesis (The weak but more accurate picture)

Language

Thought

Culture

Ahearn, L. M. (2011). Living Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley and Sons.

 Scholars who sought to operationalize the SapirWhorf hypothesis conducted researches which showed evidence that language indeed has an influence to thought. John Arthur Lucy, an expert on linguistic relativity, pointed out three significant areas which researchers of the thoughtand-language relationship need to consider carefully.
1. Language-in-general 2. Linguistic structure 3. Language use

Researches about language and culture

J.A. Fishman posits that language and culture are interrelated and determined three links between the two.
1. Language as a part of culture 2. Language as an index of culture 3. Language as symbolic of culture

On the other hand, discourse theorist Claire Kramschs studies about language and culture view language as:
1. An expression of cultural reality 2. An embodiment of cultural reality 3. A symbolism of cultural reality
Risager, K. (2007). Language and Culture: Global Flows and Local Complexity. Great Britain: Cromwell Press Ltd.

In a nutshell . . .
Culture, thought and language influence and affect one another in a multidirectional way. How a man speaks reflects his thought and the predominant conception of people in a community is a reflection of their culture. Regardless of diversities, culture, language and thought do not determine ones racial, intellectual or cultural supremacy over others.