.Perceived object similarity in isiXhosa: assessing the role of noun classes

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Categorizing objects is central to the way we as humans interact with the world. Without the capacity to form categories, we might not have been able to function efficiently. It is generally assumed that human beings are consistently in the process of categorizing; such as placing entities into groups or classes during conscious, subconscious and even unconscious states. Research on the relationship between language and thought aims to explore the domains of cognition affected by language, as well as the conditions under which these effects are obtained. The aim of the current study is to examine whether the differences in nominal classification between English (a non-noun class language) and isiXhosa (a noun class language) bring about cross-linguistic differences in categorization preferences among speakers of these languages. An object triads-matching task is used to examine categorization preferences of native English speakers and native isiXhosa speakers, specifically evaluating the extent to which isiXhosa noun class categories influence perceived object similarity. Findings from three different experimental conditions, in which the object labels in the matching task have been given different degrees of salience, indicate that noun class categories seem to have a null effect on categorization, even when noun class membership is made maximally salient. The isiXhosa speakers' experience with English as a second language is also assessed, suggesting limited measurable influence of this factor on object categorization. These findings are discussed against the predictions of the label-feedback hypothesis, along with the general framework of linguistic relativity and bilingual cognition.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University