Does language effect the way we perceive the world? [Chomsky; Sapir-Whorf hypothesis; 1984]

How do you define what a language is? Is it simply a means of communication, or does it function as much more than that? Is there a connection between our language and our culture?
The general impression is that language functions as a sign of the condition of a culture. For instance,if a society's concept of the role of the woman changes, the language that the particular society uses to refer to women will also change. Chomsky had a theory that compares language to a cloak, saying that language structures are universal, while cultural differences are merely superficial. Thus, he claimed…