The Relationship Between Language and Culture Defined
The Relationship Between Language and Culture Defined
The Relationship Between Language and Culture Defined
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Language and culture are intertwined. A particular language usually points out to a specific
group of people. When you interact with another language, it means that you are also
interacting with the culture that speaks the language. You cannot understand one's culture
without accessing its language directly.
When you learn a new language, it not only involves learning its alphabet, the word
arrangement and the rules of grammar, but also learning about the specific society's
customs and behavior. When learning or teaching a language, it is important that the culture
where the language belongs be referenced, because language is very much ingrained in
the culture.
Using paralanguage
Complex is one term that you can use to describe human communication since
paralanguage is used to transmit messages. Paralanguage is specific to a culture, therefore
the communication with other ethnic groups can lead to misunderstandings.
When you grow up in a specific society, it is inevitable to learn the glances, gestures and
little changes in voice or tone and other communication tools to emphasize or alter what you
want to do or say. These specific communication techniques of one culture are learned
mostly by imitating and observing people, initially from parents and immediate relatives and
later from friends and people outside the close family circle.
Body language, which is also known as kinesics, is the most obvious type of paralanguage.
These are the postures, expressions and gestures used as non-verbal language. However,
it is likewise possible to alter the meaning of various words by changing the character or
tone of the voice.
Homologous relationship of culture and language
The phrase, language is culture and culture is language is often mentioned when language
and culture are discussed. It's because the two have a homologous although complex
relationship. Language and culture developed together and influenced each other as they
evolved. Using this context, Alfred L. Krober, a cultural anthropologist from the United
States said that culture started when speech was available, and from that beginning, the
enrichment of either one led the other to develop further.
If culture is a consequence of the interactions of humans, the acts of communication are
their cultural manifestations within a specific community. Ferruccio Rossi-Landi, a
philosopher from Italy whose work focused on philosophy, semiotics and linguistics said that
a speech community is made up of all the messages that were exchanged with one another
using a given language, which is understood by the entire society. Rossi-Landi further
added that young children learn their language and culture from the society they were born
in. In the process of learning, they develop their cognitive abilities as well.
Inter-cultural interactions
What is likely to happen if there is interaction between two cultures? In today's scenario,
inter-cultural interactions are very common. Communication is necessary for any person
who wants to understand and get along with people whose background and beliefs are
greatly dissimilar from their own.
Cultural identity can be marked by language, although language can be used to refer to
other processes and developments, like when intentions are explained in the language by a
specific speaker. A specific language refers to a particular cultural group.
The set of attributes of a culture is expressed through language. Language is also used to
point to objects that are unique to a particular culture.
All this means that learning and teaching another language is essential for international
communication and cooperation. The knowledge of other languages facilitates knowledge of
other countries and the specific cultures of each one.
Culture is not learned by imitation but by oral instruction. There could be some imitation, if
the learner is still young. With language, methods of social control, products, techniques
and skills are explained. Spoken language offers a vast quantity of usable information for
the community. This helps to quicken new skill acquisition and the techniques to adapt to
new environments or altered circumstances.
The advent of writing increased the process of culture dissemination. The permanent state
of writing made it easier for information to be diffused. The process is further hastened by
the increase in literacy and the invention of printing.
Modern techniques for fast communication transmission across the globe through
broadcasting and the presence of translation services around the world help make usable
knowledge to be accessible to people anywhere in the world. Thus, the world benefits from
the fast transference, availability and exchange of social, political, technological and
scientific knowledge.
Language is used in different ways and broadly, the linguistic varieties could be categorized
into geographical (used only in particular parts of the community), social (varieties used by
societal groups based on occupation, gender and age) and functional (used based on
function and situation). These factors lead to the formation of dialects that add diversity to
the language.
At Day Translations, Inc., our translators are not only linguistic experts. Because they are
native speakers, each of them understands their own culture like the backs of their hands.
They inherently understand the nuances of their language as well as the languages they
work with. They apply their deep cultural knowledge to the translation projects they handle.
Get in touch with our translators day or night, wherever you are. We are open 24/7, all days
of the year, to provide you with professional translation service with the highest level of
quality and accuracy. For an instant translation quote, send us an email at Contact us or call
us at 1-800-969-6853.
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Before answering this complex and difficult question, I need to define first
these two notions. I will maintain Byram’s (2008) version for culture defined as
“shared beliefs, values and behaviors of a social group”, where social group
can be a family at a micro level and a nation at a macro level. For language, I
will keep Kramsch’s (2002) version, since it refers to the relationship of
language ‘creating’ socially shared realities or cultures – even if they are only
temporary -, according to whom “language is used not just as a tool for the
exchange of information, but as a symbolic system with the power to create
and shape symbolic realities, such as values, perceptions, identities through
discourse”.
Risager (2006) explores the link between language and culture when a
communicative event takes place; by communicative event she means any
social event, which also refers to a cultural event, so the best term is socio-
cultural event in which languaculture (Agar, 1991) is used in a local
integration with discursive and other cultural flows. She analyses the
relationship between language and culture from three different perspectives:
sociological, psychological and linguistic. In the first perspective, language and
culture can be separable, since it is possible for a language to express or
create, as Kramsch (2009) would say, different realities or cultures. In the
psychological perspective these two are inseparable, since an individual carries
all the linguistic and cultural experience within oneself. The third perspective is
valid only in the practice of linguistics where language is analysed outside of
its cultural context.
Language is used not just as a tool for the exchange of information, but
as a symbolic system with the power to create and shape symbolic
realities, such as values, perceptions, identities through discourse
The relation of culture and language is the way they share human values,
realities and behaviours of a social group.
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POINT I
Introduction
A. Background
Appearing of the culture always be supported by many languages. In any culture or region,
language is much more than semantics, much more than what the written page or the spoken word can
contain. This especially becomes clear when studying a foreign language and learning the ways of a
particular culture. For example, the use of introductions, salutations, everyday sayings, etc. This area in
particular gives more weight to culture then to the words themselves. Anyone studying a foreign
language has to be bicultural as well as bilingual to speak the new language in a way that it is not
disparaging to the culture and its origin. Language does not end at the meaning or the use of words
associated to a culture" words represent beliefs, history, and the culture of their origin and they must be
used accordingly.
B. Setting of problem
POINT II
The relationship between culture and language
A. What’s language.
Language as one element of culture has a very important role in human life. Language allows a
person communicating with others in meeting their needs. Thus, it can be said is the main function of
language as a communication tool. This does not mean that the language has only one function. Another
function is as a tool to express self-expression, a tool to make integration and social adaptation, as well
as a tool to hold social control. (Keraf, 1980: 3)
Based on these functions, also mentioned that "Language is a means of communication between
members of the public symbol of the sound produced by means of said human" (Keraf, 1980: 1). Similar
opinion was also expressed by Sitindoan (1984: 17) states "Language is a symbol of the sound produced
by means of said human, and the system has means that are arbitrary; used by men in her life as a
means of communication between each other to form, express , and communicate thoughts and
feelings. Cultural social nature".
Based on the notions described above, it is clear that the language was intended in this paper is
a communication tool produced by the tool man has said symbol, system, meaning, and social are
arbitrary and culturally. Every language has a symbol. With the symbol will facilitate communication,
although not directly dealing with the object. This is because each symbol already contains a concept or
understanding. In order for the meaning of the symbols are understood, every language user must
understand and follow the system language is used. Language system contains rules or rules that must
be obeyed by the user's language. If not obeyed, the delivery information may be chaotic or
communication cannot happen.
Languages are arbitrary means no direct relationship between the symbol with the symbolized.
Symbolic emergence of an object is based on the convention. However, even so to be able to understand
a language must be studied and used as a communication tool.
B. What’s Culture
Culture is the whole communication system that binds and allows operation of a set of people
called the public. Thus culture can be defined as a "system of rules of communication and interaction
that allows a society occurs, preserved, and preserved". Culture that gives meaning to all business and
human movements. (Nababan, 1984: 49)
Based on the above definition, clearly shows that between humans and culture are inseparable.
Similarly, between the Indonesian and Indonesian culture. This is because human beings live alongside
Indonesia in a unit area of ethnic communities, also live in a unity of the Republic of Indonesia. In this
regard, they hold one culture, according to the conception of insight archipelago, Indonesia is the
national culture (Geriya, 1996: 71).
Furthermore formally Indonesia normative cultural system and set the whole human Indonesian
society. There are two functions of cultural systems that Indonesia is very important, namely: the giver's
identity and as a communication that unites and integrates the Indonesian community that is diverse.
Culture can also be interpreted as "the activities and the creation of the mind (reason) people
like: faith, art, etc." For example, Chinese Culture, Culture of Indonesia, and Javanese culture.
(Poerwadarminta, 1983: 157). Based on this understanding, we can say that only humans have culture.
This is due to living things is people who have sense and reason to generate culture.
In addition to the above two terms, the notion of culture can also be viewed from the corner of
Sciences Anthropology. In this regard, culture (the culture) is defined as "the entirety of the conduct and
results of regular human behavior by the administration that must be acquired behaviors by learning and
all are arranged in life". (Koentjaraninggrat Ed., 1985: 77).
Culture in this case is understood as a learned behavior and conducted by a group of people,
cultures obtained from others by learning from the community. Culture also includes everything that is
the result of creativity, initiative, and the work of humans in an effort to improve the standard of living
and adapt to their environment. As a system, the culture needs to be seen from the embodiment of
human life associated with the ideas, behaviors, and material that are influenced by various aspects.
Based on the notions above can be concluded is meant by culture is a result of creative initiative,
and the work of humans in an effort to improve the standard of living and adapt to their environment.
These limits are more emphasized on the fact that humans are capable of producing culture, because
humans are living beings who have mind and reason.
Krech(1962)explained the major functions of language from the following three aspects:
2. Language reflects both the personality of the individual and the culture of his history. In turn, it helps
shape both personality and culture;
3. Language makes possible the growth and transmission of culture, the continuity of societies, and the
effective functioning and control of social group.
It is obvious that language plays a paramount role in developing, elaborating and transmitting
culture and language, enabling us to store meanings and experience to facilitate communication. The
function of language is so important in communication that it is even exaggerated by some scholars. The
most famous one is the hypothesis of linguistic determinism concerning the relationship between
language and culture, which Nida regards as misconceptions constituting serious difficulties for cross-
cultural understanding.
The problem of the relationship between language, culture and thought bothered many linguists
and philosophers since ancient time. To think about this problem, we need to begin with the definition
of language and culture. Language is generally accepted as a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for
human communication. And there is a most widely accepted definition of culture: culture is the total
accumulation of beliefs, customs, values, behaviors, institutions and communication patterns that are
shared, learned and passed down through the generation in an identifiable group of people. (Linell
Davis) The definitions of language and culture imply that the two are closely connected to each other. On
one hand, culture seems so inclusive, it permeates almost every aspect of human life including
languages people use. On the other hand, when people need to share a culture, they communicate
through language.
However , the definition alone can not provide us with a clear understanding on the relationship
between language and culture. Problems remains unsolved as: how does culture influence people’s
linguistic behavior? And does language influence the culture in return? If so , in what way? Varies studies
have been carried out, among them, a well known hypothesis is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis made by
two American linguists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis describes the
relationship between language, culture and thought. The core idea is that man’s language moulds his
perception of reality. We see the world in the way that our language describes it, so that the world we
live in is a linguistic construct(Liu Runqing). The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis has two major components:
linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity. The former holds the idea that the way one thinks is
determined by the language one speaks, because one can only perceive the world in terms of the
categories and distinctions encoded in the language. The latter means that the categories and
distinctions encoded in one language system are unique to that system and incommensurable with those
of others, therefore, the difference among languages must be reflected in the differences in the
worldviews of their speakers. Since the formulation of the hypothesis, discussions have never been
ended. Many linguists and philosophers are against the linguistic determinism. They argue if language
determines thought totally, and if there is no thought without language, speakers of different languages
will never understand each other. Nevertheless, the weak interpretation of the hypothesis is now widely
accepted that language do have influence on thought and culture. Evidence is easy to be found. A well
known example is that Eskimos have countless words for snow while there is only one word ‘snow’ in
English. Therefore, a ‘snow world’ in a Eskimo’s eye and an English speaker’s eye would be so different.
This example shows that people’s perceptions of their surroundings are modified by the conceptual
categories their languages happen to provide(Liu Runqing). Questions still remains: which goes first, the
language or the culture? Is it the native language gives people different perceptions? Or on contrary, is
the different worldviews and cultures determine the language?
The problem get more and more philosophical, as Winston Churchill once said, ‘ we shaped our
buildings and afterwards our buildings shaped us.’ We describe our experience and culture by using
language, and the categories built into language, its structures influence our perceptions--language in
turn shapes our thought and culture. Therefore, we should take a dialectical point of view on the
relationship between language and culture. As is mentioned at the beginning, language and culture are
inextricably intertwined. On one hand, language is a part of human being. It reflects people’s attitudes,
beliefs, worldviews. Language both expressed and embodies cultural reality. On the other hand,
language is a part of culture. It helps perpetuate the culture and it can influence the culture to a certain
extent.
There is one thing should be pointed out that although different languages reflect and influence
different culture, there are many concepts that are universal. Also, take the relationship issue for
example, people from the English speaking countries can distinguish relatives on mother’s side from
those on father’s side, although they do not do so, the concepts are there. People from different cultures
can understand each other although they speak different languages and have different worldviews,
because many of the basic concepts are universal.
2. Pedagogical implication
Since language and cultures are intertwined with each other, learning a language can not be
separated from learning its culture. only by learning the culture, the L2 learners can better understand
the language and use it in communication as native speakers do. Educators now generally believes that it
is important to help the L2 learners to achieve the communicative competence as well as the linguistic
competence. In pedagogy there is a method of foreign language teaching called communicative language
teaching(CLT), and the goal of CLT is to develop students’ communicative competence, which includes
both the knowledge about the language and knowledge about how to use the language appropriately in
communicative situation. In CLT, culture teaching plays an important role.
In language teaching, on one hand, teachers and learners should pay attention to the culture
difference since different languages reflect the different value system and worldviews of its speaker. By
knowing the culture difference, one can avoid some mistake in communicating. On the other hand, the
same concepts of the two cultures should not be neglected. By sharing the same concept, language
learning may become easier and happier. More importantly, since languages have influence on thought,
when learning a second language, the L2 learners should at the same time strengthen their mother
tongue. Therefore, the native culture is protected.
POINT III
Closing
A. Conclusion
Language is a major component and supporter of culture as well as a primary tool for
transferring message, which is inextricably bound with culture. Learning a second language also involves
learning a second culture to varying degrees. On the other hand, language is influenced and shaped by
culture. It reflects culture. Cultural differences are the most serious areas causing misunderstanding,
unpleasantness and even conflict in cross-cultural communication. So both foreign language learners and
teachers should pay more attention to cultural communication information.
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