Final answer:
The concept that language influences perception and thought is known as linguistic relativity, a key element of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis formulated by Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that the language we speak influences the way we perceive and think about the world is called linguistic relativity. This concept is part of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which was developed by linguists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf in the 1920s.
According to this hypothesis, people experience and understand their world through the culture embedded in their language, therefore, the structure of one's language affects the ways in which they conceptualize their world. For instance, variations in languages may influence how individuals think about time, space, or even emotions such as love. While some researchers consider this view as too deterministic, modern psychological studies continue to explore and discuss the complex relationship between language and thought.