The idea that there is something about our internal cognitive structure that prevents us from understanding or thinking about a concept or idea for which we have no symbol or word is called the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis. This hypothesis was created by linguists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the early twentieth century.

The hypothesis asserts that language affects our perception and understanding of concepts; in other words, that our cognitive ability is limited to those concepts for which we have symbols or words. According to this hypothesis, the way we think is shaped by the language we use, and our ability to think about something is contingent upon our ability to express it through language. This idea has been debated vigorously in linguistics and psychology, and while there is no consensus yet, it has become an important point in the study of human cognition.

The idea of the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis is that a person’s cognitive capacity is limited by the language they speak. For example, if a language has no word to describe a specific color, then people who speak that language will not be able to visualize or conceive of that color.

The Sapir–Whorf hypothesis has had a great influence on how linguistics and cognitive science are studied today. Many cognitive scientists believe that language does influence our cognition, although the extent of this influence is still a subject of debate. This has implications for the study of language and cognition, as well as for education and social policy.

The Sapir–Whorf hypothesis is an important concept to consider when thinking about language and cognition. It suggests that language can affect our ability to conceive of and think about certain concepts, and has implications for how we use language in education and other settings.