the order of events is viewed from top to bottom). Boroditsky conducted an experiment in which she found that while English speakers view time horizontally (i.e., the past is behind us or to the left and the future is ahead or to the right), Mandarin speakers are more likely to view time vertically (i.e. It’s a hypothesis supported by professor Lera Boroditsky who wrote a whole paper on the topic of linguistic relativity.Ī great example explored by those who study linguistic relativity is the concept of time and space between languages. Language affects the way we perceive the world and therefore, it affects how we choose to interact with it.Īsk a linguist about language and perception and they’ll probably point you to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which states that the limits and structure of language determines their user’s thoughts and actions. Language reflects our perception of the world Have you ever heard the phrase “A Whistle in the Dark” or noticed any of the other words and expressions for the word courage ? Such observations would lead an English learner to believe that bravery is an attribute that’s highly coveted in English-speaking societies.īut that’s not the only connection between language and culture. Or if you were learning English, you can find lots of examples of the historical and cultural values reflected in typical English expressions and idioms by just listening to an episode of NPR’s radio program “A Way with Words.” Taking a look at common expressions and idioms gives you a glimpse into what a society deems important.įor example, just looking at all the Chinese idioms dealing with family demonstrates the value they place on this relationship and tells us a little about the family construct and potential dynamics. Those contrasting values and beliefs can manifest in a variety of ways. You have to open yourself up to these differences. Mastering the nuances of a language means really being able to understand people who (more than likely) grew up with an entirely different set of values and beliefs. The differences between two cultures are reflected perfectly in their languages. Language reflects the values and beliefs of a culture Let’s look at just how connected they really are. This is because language is constantly in flux and largely dependent on the ever-evolving views, values and customs of its speakers. You won’t fully master a language unless you understand the culture, just like you’ll never fully understand a culture until you’ve immersed yourself in a study of their language. Simply put, language allows us to express our thoughts and feelings, it allows us to communicate and share knowledge with one another. To answer that question, let’s think about the purpose of language.
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Like I said, it’s all connected.ĭownload: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬan take anywhere. Now that you’ve answered the question, “ what language should I learn?” read on and, hopefully, when you’re done you’ll have a new appreciation for the language ( or languages) you’re currently studying as well as the culture it stems from, or maybe even your own culture. That’s what we’re going to be exploring here. Still, you can’t deny that language is a huge part of culture, so much that it actually affects culture in the same way that a culture affects the language. Okay, I might be romanticizing just a bit. It allows us to delve deeper into the meaning of words and expressions and helps us feel more connected to each other.
Learning about different cultures helps us approach languages with new insight. To fully appreciate a language, you need to understand the culture of the people who speak it-they’re intrinsically connected. Learning a language without comprehending the culture is like going to the vibrant Mexican marketplace pictured above and only eating hamburgers from McDonald’s.īut you’re kind of missing the point. By narayanliu The Relationship Between Language and Culture Explained
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