How Culture Influences Language
What is Language?
Language has been influenced by the people and the practices of those living within different cultures. Language would be defined as a means of understanding each other with either the written or the spoken word. Language is communication, either written or spoken which creates understanding between humans. Language consists of pre-set meanings for the written or spoken word. Language is a form of expression or communication between humans.
What is Culture?
Culture is defined by the behavior and activities of people, often within their Geographical boundaries. Culture would include language, art, music, mannerisms, religion, games, dress, rituals, law and belief.
What would be the relationship between Language and Culture
The effect that culture has on language is as old as the language and culture themselves.
Therefore, it would be assumed, that putting the two together would create a relationship whereby people could communicate with each other from where they are coming.
Symbols would have been the first means of communication.
Simple noises or grunts would have been next. These were transferred from one
That is simply to explain the elementary basis of how culture and language would meet
Taking into account that cultures have undergone many, many centuries of change, it would stand to reason that the languages would have done the same.
The world of language is said to be divided into 3.
1. European and Asian
2. Pacific and African
3. American Indian
Each of the above families has had its own cultural traits. The language was shaped according to the speaking and understanding of each family. Phonetics became part of a tribe, understood explicitly by them. When examined there were many similarities between the different tribes, although not formally. Various factors varied between the tribes i.e Grammar, the order of words, the use of vowels, consonants and the tonal accent. Different languages from the same region had many similarities, but at the same time had an identity of their own, their culture. It was these distinctions that helped evolve the respective languages over centuries.
Social traits, which are culture dependent, also influenced language in the way different genders or classes within the same tribe or race spoke to one another. Trade jargons were established in regions where there was business interaction.
The subject of Language and culture are not separable. They come hand in hand with each another since they are interwoven at every level. To speak is to assume a culture, and to know a culture is like knowing the language. Culture is a product of language as is language a product of culture. It is clear that culture enriches language.
With analysis of the relationship between culture and language, it becomes clear that culture affects dialect, grammar and literature. Comprehension and communication would be the result of culture, language understanding and interaction.
Lets consider how the world is becoming smaller. Due to internet and other communication as well travel and the fact that people are mingling all the time in every place, the world is literally becoming one. As a result, different languages from their respective cultures are bringing people together. This understandably would mean culture and language work together, since at the outset, the gap between men, families, and folk of different tribes, language was solely meant to be the means that bridged the gap.
Language no longer bridges the gap…… it has closed the gap and is the important means of communication.
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