Major Language Influence on Cultural Identity - Essay Example

 Major Language Influence on Cultural Identity There are various ways in which the language can influence the cultural identities of various groups. The language in use is singled out a key factor, not only in revealing the particular cultural identity but also to its preservation. The particular factors identified include that of the particular societies to be linked as a unit cohesively primarily due to sharing a language. The mode of expression of the framework of a culture will therefore be combined with language to the language to form a comprehensive description. There is also an issue of representation where, as an example, a culture with a leader in a national platform will feel represented. The basic link of this relationship is therefore not necessarily on a personal relationship but rather on a general setting of a shared language. This reveals that there is far reaching effect solidarity within a culture that is created by the culture that cannot be ignored or side-lined. The cultural identity reveals the particular identity that an individual, a group or a culture operates within. Various influential aspects are put into perspective that will dictate how the cultural identity framework is to be. Certain conditions or influential factors in consideration include ethnicity, religious beliefs, language, sexuality, nationality, history, gender, race, location and the like. Language is singled out in this discussion as a major factor that influences the cultural identity in a significant way. There are views that the matters of cultural identity are divisive since they are based on the differences that exists (Auer, 2013). However, the diversity in the language use and also issues like locality distances will inevitably form dynamic identities in culture. The radical forms language and the application are among the foundational definitions of the various cultures. The community view of the world can be influenced by a particular language that they use. A culture that is totally different from the rest of the world can be formed as a result of a language setting that is adopted by a particular community. The way a particular community will respond to the matters that are in the general globe carries in it a great influence from a particular language (Lin, 2013). The words that are contained in a language, for example, will influence the perception that one acquires about certain things. The children will primarily adopt the way of their culture and get integrated in it through their language. This means that the language that one adopts, especially from childhood, will form the direction that will be taken by an individual in choosing a belief system. The various dilemmas that will be encountered will be addressed to a significant extent following the language earlier adopted (Tchindjang, Bopda & Ngamgne, 2008). The identity of a culture is to some degree created by the language in use. A whole society may define itself by the dialect and the language in use. In some instances, a language may even be a basis for the description of status and sophistication where some who use a particular language are considered better than some others from others that aren’t prevalently used (Mejía, 2011). If the language of a particular culture does not possess words that relate to the modern society, they will be disassociated in many ways with the cultures that prevalently makes use of these particular words. The rate of scientific discoveries integration in a language, for instance, reveals the sophistication of a particular culture. People are united in solidarity as one culture fundamentally by the language in use. People are differentiated as one unit on the basis their particular language. Certain unique vocabularies, dialect and language will reveal a particular culture and define the fundamental differences that make them different from the others. The people speaking a particular language are more likely to have more attachment with them who speak the same language in a general view. The language brings about an understanding that can create bridges to deeper engagements that were not in existence even among strangers who share a language. The cultural heritage is perpetuated primarily on the support of language in use. It the link that is used in the preservation of certain modes of operation that are only identifiable in that group of people. (Lin, 2013) The cultural language used is an expression of the thought patterns. However, the language structure will also influence the thoughts that will be prevalent in a particular culture. This will influence the particular actions of the people and the interpretations that they adopt in a particular surrounding. The description of an issue may render its value upheld in one culture and dismissed in another, considering two extremes. How the issue will be handled by the entire culture, especially if new, will be an expression of the convictions that are developed as an expression is done (Dueck, 2012). The markets, for example, know that there are profound impacts that languages have in relation to their job. The language used in these marketing endeavours is very critical in realising a high rate of success(Falck et al., 2012). The link of a particular group of people through language will make them to be predominant within a particular location over a certain time period. They are at a position to share a particular way of life which gives them identity even nationally. When the government target regions for development in a developing country for example, they are likely to be benefiting a particular culture (Yagi & Kleinberg, 2011). Groupings can be done, not only on the basis of regions, but also on the basis of language especially in countries that have multiple languages in use. When a particular advocacy program is being developed, it can be directed to a particular language or a number of them. When a particular leader from a certain language is chosen, there is likelihood that the people who share the language will feel that they are well represented in the matters at hand (Wodak, 2012). Language will also affect the learning process of the particular culture. Learning is enhanced by the associations that are formed in a culture and also cross-culturally. The peer relationships, members of a family, relatives, friends and strangers can have their basis of integration in an effective language that is in use (Norton, 2011). The relationship with authority figures and experts from various areas are given space into culture by the language in use. The flexibility of a language to adopt new or different views and incorporate them in the daily use will dictate if there is a flow in the learning process. The permissibility in language will make it have a room for expansion and the development of the culture in which the language in perspective depends will be clear. As an example here, the internet has brought with it different sets of words that are either totally new or adopted words to mean a different thing in their application in this technology. The flexibility of a language to adopt these particular words will reveal the degree of the culture exposure in that particular field. (Hall, 2013) Various aspects of the culture are subject to change. The citizenship may change. The outside influences may align matters in such a way that a cultural framework is changed. A particular society may primarily be entrenched to a certain economic way of life. They may be accustomed to farming, for example. A shock in the market may cause a reconsideration of the particular economic activity to rely on. This makes such parameters to be shaky standards for definition of a particular culture. There need to be stable definitions of a culture if it is to stick firm. Language therefore becomes a reliable parameter of use(Mejía, 2011). The language in use by a culture has virtue sustainability even when changes occur. It would take so long for a language in use to be totally wiped out or be considered to be redundant. This qualifies language to not only define the identity of a culture but also importantly to be a preserver of cultural identity reliably. It is this aspect that makes language and cultural identity to be closely integrated as a unit in their definition. (Carbaugh, 2013) It can therefore be concluded that language is a very key influential factor to cultural identity. It integrates the framework of the culture in a way that touches its intrinsic features. The key captured issues include those of forming a cohesive group of people who are closely linked. The individuals in each group have a sense of belonging through the common bond that the language will form. There is a feeling of representation attached to a person of a similar language. The particular thought patterns, as it has been established in the discussion, has its roots in the language in use. The learning process and the expansion of a cultural perspective over issues like technology have also been identified to result from the language in use. The description that has been in focus can therefore be said to have a strong link foundationally in revealing the particular ways in which the language in use has its effect on the cultural identity in focus. References Auer, P. (Ed.). (2013). Code-switching in conversation: Language, interaction and identity. Routledge. Carbaugh, D. (Ed.). (2013). Cultural communication and intercultural contact. Routledge. Dueck, A. (2012). Culture, language, and integration. Journal of Psychology and Theology Falck, O., Heblich, S., Lameli, A., & Südekum, J. (2012). Dialects, cultural identity, and economic exchange. Journal of Urban Economics, 72(2), 225-239. Hall, J. K. (2013). Teaching and researching: Language and culture. Routledge. Lin, A. M. (Ed.). (2013). Problematizing identity: Everyday struggles in language, culture, and education. Routledge. Mejía, A. M. (2011). Bilingual education in Colombia: Towards a recognition of languages, cultures and identities. Colomb. Appl. Linguist. J, (8), 152-168. Norton, B. (2011). Identity and second language acquisition. The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Tchindjang, M., Bopda, A. and Ngamgne, L. A. (2008), Languages and Cultural Identities in Africa. Museum International, 60: 37–5 Wodak, R. (2012). Language, power and identity. Language Teaching, 45(2), 215-233. Yagi, N., & Kleinberg, J. (2011). Boundary work: An interpretive ethnographic perspective on negotiating and leveraging cross-cultural identity. Journal of International Business Studies, 42(5), 629-653. Read More