Language and Culture - 1039 Words

Language and Culture Differences in cultural language: what is the significance and how does it affect the world? As the world becomes more interconnected by technological advances, the need for interpersonal communication among different cultures has become evidently clear. It is quite obvious that ones culture affects almost all of ones communication behaviors. In â€Å"Language Reflects Culture,† and article written by Margaret Cote, she states that â€Å"language determines the way a person views the world† (Cote, 1985). She writes about how the Indian people view their surroundings differently than English speaking people. Cote goes on to make a personal statement as to how she sees the world in two different ways, depending on the†¦show more content†¦In any culture, communication can be difficult. However, when it comes to two different cultures communicating, that communication gap can be much greater. Communication barriers including ethnocentri sm, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination, play major roles in understanding another culture. Ethnocentrism is the belief that ones own cultural way of thinking is superior to all other cultures. It becomes a barrier in intercultural communication when and individual refuses to believe that another cultures beliefs have any value. Ethnocentrism prevents one from seeing another individuals point of view and greatly hampers empathy (Hybels Weaver, 2007). Stereotyping categorizes and generalizes the information we receive on a daily basis and oversimplifies and distorts views of other cultures. The unfortunate side of stereotyping is that once it is set, it is hard to remove. This causes barriers in intercultural communication because once an individual believes in a negative stereotype regarding a particular culture, they are much less likely to empathize with them (Hybels Weaver, 2007). Prejudice, on the other hand, deals with the attitude toward a particular group. Th ese attitudes are usually based on little to no experience or knowledge. When an individual develops prejudice feelings toward other cultural groups, they tend to not like them because of some unproven or unseen fact. This forms a barrier inShow MoreRelatedCulture : Language And Language762 Words   |  4 PagesI. Introduction Language is the main means in which we are able to express our needs, thoughts, feelings, beliefs and desires through words, gestures, and symbols; it allows us to communicate, connect and create relationships with others. It is also a vehicle for asserting our culture. Culture is made up of the characteristics of particular groups of people and can be expressed through religion, social habits, food, arts, and language. Our cultural heritage influences all aspects of our lives andRead MoreLanguage and the Culture: Language learning through the culture of the target language1768 Words   |  8 PagesLanguage and the Culture : Language learning through the culture of the target language Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Winter spring 2010 Language and the Culture : Language learning through the culture of the target language As language and culture are interrelated, so that language cannot be taught without culture (Maria, 2002). How many people learn a culture of the target language when they learn a language? Can you say the personRead MoreLanguage And Culture : Language Learners1942 Words   |  8 Pagescultural groups. Despite this, few educational systems truly embrace these diverse languages and cultures inside the classroom or through instruction (Pinnock, 2009). â€Å"Language is the channel through which people’s cultures are transmitted†, but promoting only one or two languages deemed important the school system is separating many children from their culture (Pinnock, 2009). The ways in which language and culture are utilized in the classroom can be a â€Å"vital barrier or enabler† in successfullyRead MoreLanguage, Language And Culture Development2070 Words   |  9 Pages Language is something that defines us in a culture and gives us the voice in which we express ourselves. So it can be said that language is something that every person needs. Language can be defined as a form of communcating spoken, written, or signed that is based on a system of symbols (Santrock 2007, p.303). The importance of language is something that goes unrecognized in everyday life, but we need language to be able to speak with other people. Listen to other people read and write (SantrockRead MoreIs Language Influenced by Culture?1236 Words   |  5 PagesCCHU9042 Human Language: Nature or Nurture? Final Report Is Language Influenced by Culture? Culture and language have long been believed to be intimately interrelated. Defined by anthropologist Tylor (1871, p.1), culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. People learn culture through language. Language, one of theRead MoreTopics On Language And Culture1494 Words   |  6 PagesFebruary 2015 Topics in Language and Culture To gain a deeper and more complex understanding of cultures around the world it takes more than just knowledge of norms and practices. The interplay between language and culture consists of a multitude of factors of which three stand out above the rest. Nonverbal communication, bilingualism, and differences in communication among genders are intrinsically connected across cultures in such a way that cultures influence language structure in line with culturalRead MoreThe Importance of Language and Culture3202 Words   |  13 Pages The importance of language is a repeated trend throughout history. The lack of language weighs negatively on an individual’s intellect and the acquisition of language feeds the development of one’s cultural identity. The greatest historical conquest began in the realm of linguistic turmoil. Examples of this are vast in the capturing of American Americans slaves, and injustice towards the Native Americans on the home front. The captured people were taken from a variety of tribes speaking differentRead MoreThe Importance of Language and Culture2130 Words   |  9 PagesImportance of Language and Culture Diana Everett COM200 Instructor Terrance Frazier April 04, 2011 The Importance of Language and Culture There are two forms of communications--verbal and non-verbal. Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. Language is not the only source of communication, there are other means also. Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch, by body language or posture, byRead MoreLanguage And Culture : Language As But It Were An Object1866 Words   |  8 Pagescriticise those who ‘view language as though it were an object’. By describing language as an object, it gives the impression of something static; incapable of growth or adaptation. In the author’s view, to think of language in this way disregards the different meanings that words can have in different social contexts. Language is a constantly evolving tool for communication and while many view it as though it is a constant framework, static and unchanging, the truth is that language is always developingRead MoreBody Language in Cultures1948 Words   |  8 PagesSean E. English 102 Body language is not language in the strict sense of the word language; it is in fact, a broad term for forms of communication using body movements, gestures, facial expressions and eye behaviors in addition to sounds, verbal language, or other forms of communication. Although we may not realize it when we talk with others, we make ourselves understood not only by words but also by our body language. Body language sometimes helps make communication easy and effective. In order