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ds on language and vice versa. As far as above conclusions are concerned, a critical question comes into being: no matter language determines thought or vice versa, two schools with opposite answers are derived from them:
    According to Yanfu, the school of the majority makes a consensus on language determined by thought and the relationship between language and thought is just like the relationship of form and content; and to Dr Johnson, language was “the dress of thought”. (李瑞华,1996: 12) Thought is invisible and exists in untouched style, so it has to be expressed by language. Consequently, just like pen to writing, language serves as a tool to reflect thought. Thought may also be considered to find its best expression in language while language has to rely on thought for its content.
    However, the above view has been challenged by some theorists who had presented opposite viewpoint. One of the most mentioned theories of the relationship between language and thought is Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, named after the American linguists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf. It is a very influential but controversial theory. Whorf suggests first that all levels of thinking mode depend on language. To speak more frankly, language determines thought, because of languages differ in many ways. Whorf also believed that speakers of different languages experience and perceive the world differently. The hypothesis holds that language is not simply a recording instrument, which mirrors the reality of what we are aware of. As far as the relationship between thought and language is concerned, the function of language is overestimated. It might be better to say that: Language informs but does not comprise thinking.
No matter language determines thought or vice versa, language is on the intimate terms with thought: both of them rely on each other and influence each other. Both language determinism, and thought determinism are too absolute. This view is convincingly illustrated in the following remark:
    Language does not exist alone but is modeled by other systems in human mind. Due to language for conveying idea, its structure and function must reflect these ideas; due to it being spoken and understood easily and efficiently, its structure and function are forced to stay within the limits imposed by people’s development of capacities. Due to the communication function of language in a complex social and cultural system, its structure and function are modeled by these factors as well. Yet once people have learned how to use language it will be a strong power for himself. “It aids them in thinking about some idea and molds many aspects of their duty affairs.” (Weisler and Slavko, Theory of Language, 2001: 16)
   Consequently it can be judged that language is used to understand and present the world. It may be considered as the best tool of thinking, since it provides the best means for the expression or communication of thought. In other words, thought may be said to find its best expression in language while language has to rely on thought for its content. Different thinking mode carves different marks on their respective languages. And this reminds us that the contrast in thinking mode influence bi-directional E-C translation.

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