---
title: "1 Indo European Quotes By Benjamin Lee Whorf"
description: "1 Indo European quotes by Benjamin Lee Whorf. Plus more from Benjamin Lee Whorf and more Indo European sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/benjamin-lee-whorf-51396_adjectives_the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-d_2183325.jpg"
---

> [The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is fraught with grave possibilities of misunderstanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-derived-from-traditional/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/benjamin-lee-whorf-51396_adjectives_the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-d_2183325.jpg)

## More by Benjamin Lee Whorf

> [We cut nature up, organize it into concepts, and ascribe significances as we do, largely because we are parties to an agreement to organize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/we-cut-nature-up-organize-it-into-concepts-and-ascribe-significances/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

> [Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/language-shapes-the-way-we-think-and-determines-what-we-can-think/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

> [A change in language can transform our appreciation of the cosmos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/a-change-in-language-can-transform-our-appreciation-of-the-cosmos/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

> [Language is not simply a reporting device for experience but a defining framework for it. So if, from perhaps some unhealthy desire for sympathetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/language-is-not-simply-a-reporting-device-for-experience-but-a-2/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

> [Speech is the best show a man puts on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/speech-is-the-best-show-a-man-puts-on/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

> [The world that is coming toward us out of time is going to be very much richer in a mental sense because (among other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/the-world-that-is-coming-toward-us-out-of-time-is-going-to-be-very/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

> [The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-derived-from-traditional/)

[Benjamin Lee Whorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-lee-whorf/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/benjamin-lee-whorf/#itemlist",
            "name": "1 Indo European Quotes By Benjamin Lee Whorf",
            "numberOfItems": 1,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is fraught with grave possibilities of misunderstanding.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Benjamin Lee Whorf"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-lee-whorf/the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-derived-from-traditional/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/benjamin-lee-whorf-51396_adjectives_the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-d_2183325.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/benjamin-lee-whorf-51396_adjectives_the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-d_2183325.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/benjamin-lee-whorf-51396_adjectives_the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-d_2183325.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive…” — Benjamin Lee Whorf",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/benjamin-lee-whorf/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/benjamin-lee-whorf/",
            "name": "Indo European Quotes by Benjamin Lee Whorf",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/benjamin-lee-whorf/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/benjamin-lee-whorf-51396_adjectives_the-very-natural-tendency-to-use-terms-d_2183325.jpg"
            },
            "description": "1 Indo European quotes by Benjamin Lee Whorf. Plus more from Benjamin Lee Whorf and more Indo European sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/benjamin-lee-whorf/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/benjamin-lee-whorf/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Indo European",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Benjamin Lee Whorf",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indo-european/benjamin-lee-whorf/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
