Do you say pop, soda, or coke? What do you call the three meals you eat each day? While these questions may semm silly at first, the power of culture influencing our language is significant. What cultural distinctions might influence langage?
There are several online resources, but you might want to start with your book. See chapter 6. But to give you a richer expeience and understand of language and culture in the context of interpersonal communication, I want to share other resources with you:
Think about how culture affects and influences language, then discuss some cultural distinctions that might influence language. Please post your comment here.
18 comments:
Language has evolved with the development of culture.Language has always been a way to express feelings or share ideas. Many have become comfortable with others by sharing jokes, some may become comfortable to others and some may find them offensive. To give an example someone may call you a sissy which can be linked with being soft or weak.And in other cultures this may be linked with being a homosexual. Just to give an example... I dont want to be offensive just getting the point across..To me Culture is learned through environment and language is passed down through culture...
Lakeisha M.Dodson
I definetly agree that culture affects language and the way people percieve it.The same word may been interpreted uniquely between different cultures. For example, in the article I read in Chpater 6, it shows that some people use different dialect for the meals they eat throughtout the day and even how people have different ways in expressing time. Also another reality is that throughout time, culture changes and so does dialect amd grammer. Such as in the "old" days it wasnt accepetable to say some of the things you can say today. All in all I believe that how you are raised and the family you are around influence your language and your all around respect for people.
~Nathan Ghaznawi
I also agree that culture affects language. They way we express ourselves in the United States vs other regions across the world varies greatly. Some are more open and some are much more discreet. What one says here may come off as offensive or funny to someone somewhere else. How you were brought up and who you have been exposed to for a period of time all have an affect as well.
-Jeralyn Duncan
Culture has a big effect on out language and conversations. I'm from Texas and New Orleans! In Texas I will talk Tex-Mex which is a combination of Spanish and English. If I was to talk in Tex-Mex here in Indy majority of people would look at my like what the heck did that guy just say! Also since I was born in New Orleans and raised by parents that were born and raised there to, I say words different. I.E. them dem that dat and so on. Also some words that don't have a negitve meaning on them there have a negitive meaning and would be considered offensive and racist if you weren't form New Orleans!
----jonjacob
The two big ones I think of are age and region. How often do we "search" the internet? Not as often as we "Google". Anyone of a certain age use these terms synonymously. It seems a lot of it have to do with turning nouns into verbs (text is an action) for younger people. With region, i agree with the previous post. My grandmother, from the hills of Pennsylvania, says things like "you'uns" and "samrich". She also pronounces Pittsburgh as Pigsburg. But region extends to other countries Think of all the terms for a bathroom, like the W.C., the Lou, etc. M. Kriebel
How language and culture affect the meaning of words. Language affects thoughts and thoughts affect language. Because your thoughts may spill out into a converstation with another. Different Cultures affect the way people think and everyone in that culture may follow under that same patteren of thinking if someone speaks against the culture they may be considered an outcast in some cultures. And languages focus on things that are culturally important. Lakeisha M.Dodson
Language and Culture always have and always will affect each other greatly. Being fortunate enough to have so many diverse languages out there we must take the opportunities to broaden our linguistics so we can even start to learn about other cultures. The roots of our many cultures begins with each ones intricate communication styles. The way a culture communicates through noises or even simply gestures is the key component to how their society is glued together. It's amazing to listen to other languages let alone take the time to learn it so as to experience their culture as well.
I agree that culture does affect language I am not from Indianapolis and I even get that I say things different people ask me where am I from that I say some things different I have even had a experience with my personal life with using different words meaning in my book the same but in others eyes they are different
Shannon kwiatkowski
I agree that the connection between culture and language is one of the strongest influences. I went to visit my father who I had not seen in twelve years in Texas. I was only there for a week or two with my boyfriend, and I learned how different east Texas and Indianapolis are from each other. Aside from the obvious differences of location and weather, I saw a completely different group of people and way of thinking. The phrases I even picked up saying and the way a small town coffee shop becomes a place for hours of conversations and cigarettes. After coming home, I started looking around. Everyone was in more of a rush than in Texas, and small coffee shops were replaced by in and out impersonal Starbucks. This is only one example of the cultural differences I have experienced. This is also inside of the United States, so imagine the cultural differences you could encounter in another country.
-michelle arboe
I agree with Lakeisha and Michelle. Didn't words have different connotations depending upon the culture of where you are at geographically. So do non-verbal communications. For example, in America, holding up two fingers means "peace". But in Australia it has the same meaning as giving someone the middle finger.
Also, I grew up in Texas. Some parts still have that small, home-town feeling but a lot of places are very industrialized like we are here in Indianapolis.
Lucinda Williams
*Different words...sorry
L. Williams
I agree that culture influence our language. Look the latinos that live on the U.S. and how they've changed over time. Some Latino cultures have had influenced on the language, just as the Irish, German, Jewish and Italian populations contributed so much in the 19th to early 20th centuries.
very well put C. Oliver
You know after reading these I realized we are all talking about the spoken language, and by default the written language. I think we are forgetting all of the nonverbal cues that make up so much of our communication. I'm sure looking people in the eye while speaking is mandatory in some parts of the world. here, you'd be lucky to get a child to do that. Its not to say they are aloof or disinterested. On the contrary, we expect it and thus we think nothing of it. THis has been ingrained into our "language". Same goes for the cell phone. Its not uncommon for someone to take out their cell phone while in a conversation. Besides calls we use them as watches, alarms, pdf's, etc. It has become part of the culture, thus the language and back to culture. I wonder what other parts of the world are like.
I think our culture has changed so much in the wake of the tech revolution that its hard to keep up. I know I take for granted everyone having an email. when I say, "I'll mail it to you" it has nothing to do with a stamp and envelope. Our tech culture has changed the word. EVen in the backcountry, where information about a trail or a climb is referred to as "beta". It seems so strange. M. Kriebel
I think culture influences language all around the world. If someone grew up in New York all thier life and had a strong New York accent and moved to Kentucky they would most likely feel the barrier. Depending on how you were brought up culturally will ultimately determine the way you speak. It may also determine the type of accent that you speak with. There are many different ways to say certain words in english. If you grew up with your parents and peers saying coke, you will most likely say coke when you speak. I think it all depends on where, when, and how you are raised.
I think cultures definitely have a impact on languages. Depending on where in the world you are from there are correct and incorrect ways to speak to your elders. I may say whats up to my mom but, in many other cultures a phrase similar may be disrespectful. Other cultures express themselves differently or are more open with feeling, anger, etc. I also think it really depends on the generation or age group too. Everything seems more laid back in todays world.
Gary Chame Cox II
in my culture slang is used often in my language what that is were we would take a would add or change it around a little example my name is Deven slang might go like somebody might call me d or lil d. d-nasty ya I agree that culture can effect language
Deven Brown
I agree with Deven slang is a very fluid language where i come from.I could say, I'm going to hit the crib get my smash on,grab this coca cola shape thang then we meet up at your spot. Meaning that im going to my house to eat then pick up this nice figured woman and i'll meet you at your house.
Marcus Robinson
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