Final answer:
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, proposed by Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf, is a theory suggesting that language influences thought and perception of reality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf proposed a concept known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or linguistic relativity. This theory suggests that the language a person speaks influences how they think about and perceive reality. According to the hypothesis, different languages may shape thought patterns and worldviews that are embedded in the culture associated with that language. Whorf's studies on the Hopi language and its conception of time compared to European languages exemplify how linguistic structures can lead to different cognitive processes.