Language and Culture

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

It is generally agreed that language and culture are closely related. Language can be viewed as a verbal expression of culture. It is used to maintain and convey culture and cultural ties. Language provides us with many of the categories we use for expression of our thoughts, so it is therefore natural to assume that our thinking is influenced by the language which we use. The values and customs in the country we grow up in shape the way in which we think to a certain extent.

Cultures hiding in languages, examines the link between Japanese language and culture. An Insight into Korean Culture through the Korean Language discusses how Korean culture influences the language.

Languages spoken in Ireland, focuses on the status of the Irish language nowadays and how it has changed over time. In our big world every minute is a lesson looks at intercultural communication and examines how it can affect interactions between people from countries and backgrounds.

Ability to create and use language is the most distinctive feature of humans, Humans learn their culture through language, Culture is transmitted through language.

Moribund—spoken only by a few older people and unknown to children, Perhaps as many as 90% of all world languages will be extinct or moribund within the next 100 years, An entire way of thinking is lost each time a language becomes extinct.

Regulatory Language

Using language to control the behaviour of others or getting them to do what we want them to do, May include giving orders or at more subtle levels manipulating and controlling others, Positive regulatory language is “life skills” of parents, management and administrator must know.

Interactional Language

Used to establish and define social relationships and language all of us use in group situation, “small talk”, negotiations, encouragement, expression of friendship are examples, because those who are effective in building social skills are likely to succeed, children need to develop need to develop awareness of the ability to use language to establish relationships.Work cooperatively, enjoy companionship

Personal Language

Used to express individuality and personality, strong feelings and opinions are a part of personal language, often neglected in classrooms and thought inappropriate, yet through personal language that students relate their own lives to the subject matter being taught establish their own identities, build self esteem and confidence.

Imaginative Language

Used to create a world of one’s own, to express fantasy through dramatic play, drama, poetry or stories, unless it is fostered, it will rapidly disappear in later years. Its importance cannot be underestimated,  how difficult some teachers find it to get students to write with imagination.

Heuristic Language

Used to explore, to investigate, to acquire knowledge, to do research, to acquire understanding, it is the language for wondering, for figuring things out, inquiry is its most important function.

CULTURAL ETHICS

Culturalists embrace the idea that moral doctrines are just the rules a community believes, and they accept that there’s no way to prove one society’s values better than another. Culturalists don’t, however, follow Nietzsche in taking that as a reason to turn away from all traditional moral regulation; instead, it’s a reason to accept and endorse whichever guidelines are currently in effect wherever you happen to be. The old adage, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” isn’t too far from where we’re at here.

Culturalists see moral rules as fixed onto specific societies, but that doesn’t help anyone know what to do when confronted with an unfamiliar set of beliefs. How, the really important question is, does a culturalist act when forced to make decisions in a place and among people whose beliefs are different and unfamiliar? The Entrepreneur interview with Steve Veltkamp provides one answer.

"What can you do if your overseas associate demands a bribe? Veltkamp doesn't recommend asking embassies or consulates for assistance, as “they have to stick to the official line.” Instead, he believes “the best resource in almost every country of the world is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where you can find Americans who live in the country and understand how things are done.” (Moira Allen, 2011)

Most traditional ethical theories go in exactly the opposite direction. They say that it doesn’t necessarily matter what people are actually doing. Stronger, the entire point of studying ethics has normally been to escape conventional wisdom and ingrained habits; the idea of doing what we ought to do requires a step away from those things and a cold, rational look at the situation. So, a morality based on duties sets up guidelines including don’t lie, don’t steal and appeals to men and women in business to follow them. Acting in an ethically responsible way in the world means obeying the dictates and refusing to be swayed by what the guy in the next cubicle is up to. Handing someone money under the table, consequently, while publicly insisting that everything’s on the up and up can’t be condoned no matter what anyone else does; it can’t be right because it entails at least implicit lying. Conclusion. The culturalist deals with the question about whether a bribe is ethically respectable by ignoring all dictates received from other places and obeying the customs and standard practices of those who live and work where the decision is being made.

References Link:

http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/1695?e=brusseau-ch04_s03

https://www1.udel.edu/anthro/budani/Culture%20and%20Language.pdf

http://www.lexiophiles.com/uncategorized/the-relationship-between-language-and-culture