Final answer:
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or linguistic relativity suggests that our language shapes how we perceive and understand events, groups, and situations, reflecting cultural influences in our language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle that emphasizes that the understanding we form of an event, group, or situation depends on the questions we ask and the language we use is known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or linguistic relativity. This hypothesis posits that the language we speak significantly influences our perception of reality because it embodies cultural meanings. Therefore, the words available to us and the manner in which we use them shape our experiences and interpretations of the world. The pragmatists further this notion, arguing that language does not simply describe reality; instead, reality is constructed through language to perform certain social functions within a culture. Therefore, an event, group, or situation may be perceived and understood differently between diverse linguistic and cultural groups.