Ways In Which Language Reflects Culture And World Views
Introduction
Culture and language are related. This is because language can be used to reflect the culture of a given society. Also, language can be used to reflect the culture and its world view. Language is used to expresses culture. It is also used to sustain cultural associations that exist in a particular society. Different societies have different cultures and languages. The ideas in the society are expressed using language. Worldview refers to ideas and beliefs through which people interpret the world around them. World view is also used to determine how people interact with the world. People have different worldviews. Also, cultures have different worldviews. There are various things in the society that shape worldview. For example, culture and language shape worldview. This paper analyzes ways in which language reflects culture and its worldview.
Ways in which language reflects culture and its worldview.
Culture and language are related as language is used to reflect culture in the society. The relationship between culture and language starts when a child is born. Most societies teach young children their culture. The children grow up knowing what is expected from the culture. In addition, the children are exposed to the environment and this helps them become part of the society. Researchers argue that the people the child interacts with and the environment influence his thoughts and language. For example, children learn societal norms when they interact with other members in the society. They learn how to respect other people. Different societies have different cultures. Some behaviors are acceptable in one society as they are inline with the societal norms. But, the behaviors may not be acceptable in another society as they are not inline with the norms in the society. People in the society have different behaviors as societies have different cultures. The behaviors vary from one society to another. The behaviors and cultures in the societies form the worldviews for the people and the society. Thus, societies have different worldviews as they have different cultures and behaviors (Fantaini, 2010).
Culture is said to be a set of beliefs and values that guide people in the society. People in the society use language to express different ideas in the society. For example, young children also use language to express what they have learned from the society. This helps them portray the worldviews in the society. People express their views using languages that have been created by the society through its culture. People have to understand ones language so as to be able to improve the culture in that society (Fantaini, 2010).
Researchers argue that people will always have different worldviews, though they are raised in similar behavior and culture. This is because they speak different languages. Language is used to express worldviews in the society and people having different worldviews speak different languages. The languages used to express the worldviews have some limitations as the language causes different restrictions thus forcing people to have different worldviews. For instance, people raised up in a similar culture will speak different languages and different worldviews. This is because the languages create limitations. This implies that language is developed by culture in a society and the culture is expressed through language (Fantaini, 2010).
Culture in a society is transferred from one generation to another through language. Parents teach young children culture of a particular society using language. Hence, a young child should know his or her culture so as to be able to know his or her language. The worldviews of a society is determined by the culture and the language in the society. Teachers and parents are supposed to teach young children their culture and language so as to help them develop the right worldview. They should use the right content when teaching the students so as to help them view their culture positively. Teachers should choose the right styles to teach students so as to help them discover the differences that arise from the use of multiple languages in a single society. This will help the student appreciate his or her culture (Fantaini, 2010).
There are three elements that can be used to explain worldview in the society. For example, one can use cultural code. A cultural code consists of beliefs and values in the society. A society trains people how to behave through language. Conversation is important as it helps the members in the society communicate through language and this reflects the culture in the society. Culture and language gives one a sense of belonging. They help one feel part and parcel of the society (Fantaini, 2010).
Conclusion
In conclusion, language and culture are related. Language is used to express ones views and this helps one express the worldview of the society. People have different worldviews that result from multiple languages. People use the multiple languages to express their world views. Teachers can help students understand their cultures and develop the right world views. Students are taught from a tender age their culture using language. This helps them express world views using the language developed by the society.
Reference
Fantaini, A.E. (2010).Language:Its cultural and intercultural dimensions. Retrieved from http://www.experiment.org/documents/AppendixJ.pdf on 21/08/2010.
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