The Relationship between Cultural Norms and Language Patterns - Term Paper Example

Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : xxxxxxxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx @2015 Introduction The dominance of the relationship between cultural norms and language patterns has unquestionably dominated global debates. Actually, this relationship has often been dogged by a a particular noteworthy question ‘which was first, cultural norms or language patterns?’ in addition to being revisited by various principes including the linguistics relativity principle. Despite the fact that there have been divergent views, the interplay between the two has always left a clear mark on the relation between sequence of sounds and sequence of meanings. Thus, in order to determine the extent to which the relationship between cultural norms and language patterns can be claimed, this particular paper explores this relationship in details after which it will general a conclusive view. Relationship Between Cultural Norms and Language Patterns One can argue that social life is pervaded by language. In other words, language is the medium of exchange that makes it propagate human relationship. In this case, it is easy to observe that man cannot solemnly exist in the objectivity of the world. It is in this perspective that the relationship between cultural norms and language can effectively be understood. Human beings entirely depend on the patterns of language to initiate cultural norms. In other words, the language in the ultimate tool that man employs to undertake all the social activities. To a large extent, the ideology of the existence of the world kin unconsciously anchored on how social groups exhibit language groups. It is important to note that language of every community predisposes some choices of interpretation. In this case, language is the reason why people hear, experience or even perceive things the way they do. One way to express this is the manner in which names of things affect the group behaviors. In this instance, it is arguably true that situation can have linguistic meaning, and as such, they significantly influence the social behavior and cultural norms. It is a common conception that people will tend to avoid areas that are descried to be dangerous. For instance, in most cases, people will tend to cross a road at a point with either pedestrian crossing stripes or signs on the road. Such signs communicate a sense of safety (Howel and Jenell 2010, p 52). Language is encoded in almost every phenomenon that underscores social psychology (Krauss and Chiu 1996, p 2). In this instance, identity of personality, social perception, change of attitude, intergroup identity, biases that are witnessed between groups as well as stereotypical behaviors can all be tagged on the choice of language. In addition, social psychologists attribute language use as the tool that enables the human relationship to thrive. It is the pillar that enables human beings to respond to elicit responses to various subjects. It is also important note that it is within these social interpretations that the cultural behaviors are founded. This implies that social behaviors are significantly shaped by the choice of language that is being used by the individuals within a given society. To point it out clearly, Krauss and Chiu, (1996, p 2) explain that people will react to what they hear. What people here in encoded within the language pattern. In this case, if members of a given society are accustomed to stereotypical sentiments, then it is easy to observe that the culture of such a society is significantly embedded on racial discrimination. Various elements of cultural and social life are significantly constructed in language patterns. To put it in a different manner, language can be regarded as the structure that does not depend on the instance of usage (Carlyl 2008, p 18). However, in the context of communication, interpretation of the language depends on various linguistic forms. How different participant defines social situations, how they perceive what other people think, perceive and believe as well as how they make claims concerning their identity affects, and is significantly affected by the form and content of their speech. Mertz (2013, p 88) clarifies that the relationship between cultural norms can be understood in three distinctive contexts. These include the meaning encoded in the language patters, how social groups and individuals perceive the world which is influenced by such language patterns and the behavioral or cultural norms which facilitates the importance of the personal thought world. Language patterns may be viewed too have little or no influence of cultural norms, but in some cases by playing the role of shaping the meaningful implications of the various forms of language, patterns of language relate significantly to cultural norms. The formal prospects of language, for example, those that are inflected, may not be associated with certain cultural descriptions such as pastoral or agriculture. However, language pattern plays a critical role in defining individual thought worlds (Whorf et al. 2012, 173).  Examining social relationships is an important milestone in understanding the relationship between language patterns and cultural norms. This provides fundamental understanding of why people in a group, those in corporate relationships, in a nation or even in professions display similar characteristics or has similar behaviors. Individuals in the forenamed categories may handle problems in a totally different manner compares to those in other different groups. In this case, one can be justified to argue that cultural differences can be identified in all aspects of life. For instance, cultural differences can be seen between various organizations, groups that co-habit similar environment, individuals that come from neighboring countries. One of the major elements that generate such cultural deviation is the language pattern. It is a common knowledge that how members of an organization communicate, for instance, differs totally from the way members of another organization communicates. This attaches a lot of significance in how culture relates to the patterns of communications. Both organizational culture and national culture, as well any other group relationship thrive partly because they have a pattern of communication that is unique to that given particular group (Yamamoto 2006 p, 98) . Culture can be learnt. In other words, people can acquire knowledge about the norms of cultural groups other than their own. Particularly, the contemporary trends of globalization have reduced the world into a village-like place. People easily migrate from one country to another. In this case, the norms of a particular community can be passed to an outsider through various forms of language patterns (Dirven and Niemeier 2000, p 161).  It is important to stress that language patterns are not only encoded in the spoken language. In some cases, norm can be acquired through gestures and body language of the host language. For instance, an individual may come from a social background where people can attend dinner invitations in a pair of shorts and sandals. However, she/he may go to places where such actions are not tolerable. Such a person may get disapproving looks in case the individual is invited for dinner and appears as described. In this case, it can easily be seen that various language patterns are linked to cultural norms. The only way an idea can be conceived and normative is through communication channels. The relationship between language patterns and cultural norms is manifested in an important manner. The language patterns are simply the vessels that facilitate not only the learning of cultural norms but also the acquisition of new cultural norms. Despite this, there have been other arguments that the correlation between a community’s culture and the language is not definite. As highlighted by Bardini (Pg 46) “this idea of correlation between the culture and the language is actually a mistake ”. Bardini() also indicates that there are particularly relations but no correlations neither is there diagnostic correspondences between the cultural norms and the linguistic patterns. Conclusion The relationship between cultural norms and language patterns has without a doubt been a long standing issue in global debates. According to the analysis, it is clear that there is an existing relationship between a community’s cultural norms and its language patterns despite the challenging view highlighted by Bardini. The analysis has highlighted particular instances that support this position, with a particular aspect being the manner in which social groups exhibit language groups. The analysis further emphasize that language of every community predisposes some choices of interpretation. Such cases indeed highlight the manner at which culture relates to the patterns of communications thereby indicating that group relationship thrive partly because they have a pattern of communication that is unique to that given particular group. On the other hand, the contemporary trends of globalization have reduced the world into a village-like place whereby people easily migrate from one country to another. In this case, the norms of a particular community are able to be passed to outsiders through various forms of language patterns. Bibliography Bardini, T. 2000, Bootstrapping: Douglas Engelbart, Coevolution, and the Origins of Personal Computing, Stanford University Press. Carlyle, J. 2008, Say My Name: The Relationship Between Teachers' Perceived Implementation of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Student Academic Progress, ProQuest, USA. Dirven, R., & Niemeier, S. 2000, Evidence for linguistic relativity: [papers presented at t he 26th International LAUD Symposium entitled, "Humboldt and Whorf Revisited", held April 1 - 5, 1998 at the Gerhard Mercator University in Duisburg, Germany] Benjamins, Amsterdam. Howel, M. & Jenell, W.P. 2010, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective, Baker Books, UK. Mertz, E. 2013, Semiotic Mediation: Sociocultural and Psychological Perspectives, Burlington : Elsevier Science, USA. Michael W. M., Ying-yi H. & Chiu, C. 2012, Social Norms And Cultural Dynamics, Retrived from http://www.cognitionandculture.net/home/news/58-cfps/2391-social-norms-and- cultural-dynamics [June 04, 2015]. Murray, S. O. 1994, Theory groups and the study of language in North America: a social history, Amsterdam u.a, Benjamins. Whorf, B. L., Carroll, J. B., Levinson, S. C., & Lee, P. 2012, Language, thought, and reality: selected writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. Mass, The MIT Press, Cambridge. Yamamoto, M. 2006, Agency and impersonality: their linguistic and cultural manifestations, J. Benjamins Pub. Co., Amsterdam. Krauss, R.M & Chiu, C.1996, Language and Social Behavior, Retrieved from < http://www.columbia.edu/~rmk7/PDF/HSP.pdf> [June 04, 2015]. Read More