So far as we can tell, all human languages are equally
complete and perfect as instruments of communication: that
is, every language appears to be well equipped as any other 【B1】______
to say the things their speakers want to say. 【B2】______
There may or may not be appropriate to talk about primitive 【B3】______
peoples or cultures, but that is another matter. Certainly, not
all groups of people are equally competent in nuclear physics
or psychology or the cultivation of rice. Whereas this is not 【B4】______
the fault of their language. The Eskimos, it is said, can speak
about snow with further more precision and subtlety than we 【B5】______
can in English, but this is not because the Eskimo language
(Bone of those sometimes miscalled 'primitive') is inherently
more precise and subtle than English. This example does
not come to light a defect in English, a show of unexpected 【B6】______
'primitiveness'. The position is simply and obviously that
the Eskimos and the English live in similar environments. 【B7】______
The English language will be just as rich in terms for 【B8】______
different kinds of snow if the environments in which English
was habitually used made such distinctions as important. 【B9】______
Similarly, we have no reason to doubt that the Eskimo
language could be as precise and subtle on the subject of
motor manufacture or cricket if these topics formed the part 【B10】______
of the Eskimos' life.
【B1】