Universal grammar was developed by Noam Chomsky and it is a linguistic theory that claims that languages of all human are created on the same and abstract template and that is why all normal speakers get their native language accurately and quickly (TED, 2013). On the other hand, the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, also referred to as linguistic relativism, linguistic relativity, linguistic determinism, Whorfian hypothesis or Whorfianism, is a linguistic theory. It claims that the semantic construction of a language limits or shapes the conducts in which an utterer formulates conceptions of the world. The theory was established in 1929 and was named after Edward Sapir, an American anthropological linguistic and his student Benjamin Whorf ( Deutscher, 2010).
It is a bit hard to compare the two theories directly because they are studying different spheres of language. For the universal grammar, it majorly concerned with inclusive syntax, that is, phrase structure, co-reference and agentive structure. On the contrary, the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis has more focus on meaning , especially at the verbal level but in its sturdiest formulation at the syntax level (TED, 2013). Nonetheless, both theories can coexist in that the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is not tied to any specific language structure conception and on the other side of universal grammar, there was a set of principles that were universal and the language of each individual set parameters in how they articulated. Nevertheless, it is the other theory of the universal grammar advocates that is the root of the controversy. The universal grammar assumes that language is a unit or several units in the mind that interacts with other units such as cognition, perception and so forth. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, on the other hand, assumes language is part of cognition in general and linguistics knowledge is like any other language.
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References
Deutscher, G. (2010, August 26). Does Your Language Shape How You Think? Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html
TED. (2013, February 19). Keith Chen: Could your language affect your ability to save money? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=lw3YTbubyjI
