Relationship Between Language And Culture

There is a saying that “Time changes all things: there is no reason why language should escape that law.” We humans communicate with each other in a language whether it be English or some other native language. We cannot imagine our life without using one language or more than one. I am very intrigued by how languages are so important for different cultures and how some languages are rich in their vocabulary resulting in people with more understanding of emotions than those with comparatively less richer languages. I was amazed how languages can make such a difference in our understanding of emotions and many more things. Culture is influenced by languages and language is formed by the culture of a society.Language is not just a means of communication but a primary component of culture. When we learn a new language, we are not only understanding its grammar and words but we also learning that society’s values and beliefs. So why not inform you all about my findings regarding the beauty of language in a culture, how it evolves and how it defines a person’s identity.

Culture Transmitted Primarily By Language

Examples and Observations

An experiment was performed on birds and it concluded that for birds to develop a song, exposure is necessary along with the natural instinct for the birds to sing the song otherwise abnormalities occur. Similarly, human infants will not produce any language if they are grown in a secluded place cut-off from the society.

Means of Culture Transmission

One of the primary functions of a language is the construction of the social structure by transmission of social values in the next generation. There is a terminology called cultural transmission which is how the language is passed on from one generation to the next in a community (Nordqquist,2019). And this just shows what I want to convey that cultural transmission is being defined as transmission of language!

Language And Culture Evolution

Changes Through Time

As changes are inevitable in a culture, same happens with the transmission of language to new generation. And this is what differentiates our culture from animal behavior. Languages change with the course of time but sometimes these changes are so gradual that one can clearly see a noticeable change over a period of generations. But some changes are very rapidly visible like the change because of the vocabulary of science and technology leading to visible changes within less than a decade.

Culture and Language Evolution Example

Languages change as a result of adaptation for better words which reflect our society. For example, in this era of technology we always need words which convey complex ideas efficiently with minimum words. In past, it took years for vocabulary to get used commonly because for that it had to be included in the literature of that time but now with internet and social media, we can see new words circulated online and then being casually used by the people. This rapid evolution is a good and easy example because these changes span over just a few years as opposed to decades in past.

Culture, Language And Person’s Identity

Does Language Impact Personal Identity?

It is known that usage of words and phrases impacts our thoughts and character with which we define our identity. Language helps in making new relationships. The moment a person speaks, people can identify which region the person belongs to even if the language is similar. It is because of a difference in dialect and this dialect is a part of our identity. If a person talks with other in a formal way it mostly develops into a relationship of respectfulness but if person talks with other in an informal way using colloquial language, then it develops into a relationship of friendliness. The dialect, grammatical nuances and usage of certain words and phrases impact our thoughts and actions (Thyagrajana, 2016). Therefore, language impacts culture and society as well as our own identity.

The Importance of Culture, Language and Identity

It is very wise to understand and give importance to the cultural diversity. The uniqueness of people because of their association to a certain language and culture should be encouraged. Denying such expression means limiting the unique perspectives on life. Language is the expression of culture. It is the medium of communicating beliefs, customs and values of a culture.

Conclusion

Language is the gateway to culture and it is a very well said statement. If we leave a person in a new community without him knowing the language, then have may understand what their actions are or what routines/rituals they do but for understanding the why for their actions, that person must need to understand their language. So we should accept the diversity of different cultures and should work on preserving our cultures by preserving the languages they relate to.As famous linguist Ken Hale said, “As languages disappear, cultures die. The world becomes inherently a less interesting place, but we also sacrifice raw knowledge and the intellectual achievements of millennia.”

References

Crystal, D., & Robins, R. H. (2019, January 10). Linguistic change. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/language/Linguistic-change.How language evolves. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.languagewire.com/en/lw/themes/how-language-evolves.Nordquist, R. (2019, July 3). The Cultural Transmission of Language. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-cultural-transmission-1689814.Does Language Impact Personal Identity? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://rampages.us/thyagarajana/2016/04/04/does-language-impact-personal-identity/.Culture, language and identity - Understanding racism. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.racismnoway.com.au/about-racism/understanding-racism/the-importance-of-culture-language-and-identity/.