Final answer:
False, The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which is erroneously described as equating language to common sense, actually posits that language shapes thought and cultural understanding through linguistic relativity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that "language is nothing more than common sense expressed in words and gestures" is false concerning the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, language profoundly shapes how individuals perceive and experience the world. The hypothesis suggests that linguistic structures in different languages can influence the cognitive patterns of speakers of those languages. This concept is known as linguistic relativity. Supporters of the hypothesis argue that language plays a vital role in shaping habitual thought, and thus, when there are no words for certain concepts in a language, speakers might not recognize those concepts in the same way others do.