Culture Language And Language - 762 Words

I. 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 and shapes how we use language to interact with and interpret the world around us. It is through this critical lens that the interdependence of culture and language becomes clear: culture is expressed through language and language is influenced by culture. Taking this knowledge into account, it is obvious that the successful learning a new language must include a growing familiarity with its culture to provide a holistic and valuable understanding. Although it is not necessary to comprehend a culture to employ the mechanics of a language and speak it, meaningful communication in the language is limited in many ways by cultural knowledge and understanding. II. What I Want to Find Out Because I strongly believe in the interdependence of culture and language, I want to explore the focus on culture in current ESL classrooms and how that impacts the success of students. I also want to investigate the correlation between cultural understanding and linguistic language acquisition. Since IShow MoreRelatedLanguage 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 and Culture1039 Words   |  5 PagesLanguage 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 viewsRead 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, 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 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 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 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