Language is the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. The common trope “language in culture” has various contextual meanings and helps highlight several actions that language does: language creates culture, language gives identity, language brings people together, and language keeps people apart. The frequent use of the trope “language in culture” and the actions of languages do a significant job identifying the crucial importance that language has in its interconnection with culture. Language is the foundation that every culture is built upon; culture is the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Therefore,
…show more content…
This often happens due to the lack of understanding that some people have of other languages than their own. Whenever Christopher Columbus first discovered the Americas, (1492), he made little to no effort to comprehend the Native Americans’ languages. Consequently, Columbus thought that the land he discovers in the Caribbean were parts of Japan and China. He was also famous for generalizing all Native Americans by the label “Indians” which is still used throughout the modern dialogue. Later on, Columbus and many Europeans like him disregarded the Native Americans, held them captive, and colonized their land in the name of their European countries that they had once resided. Whenever catholic missionaries first entered the Northwest Amazon, they also had trouble understanding the native people. So it was hard for them to spread their religion amongst the natives until the natives and missionaries comprehended each other (Aikhenvald 2003, 4). The understanding of language, register, and dialect can also cause a separation amongst people and cultures. The previously mentioned Western Apache, have a relatively clear understanding of the “whitemen” or Anglo-Americans language; Consequently, they understand the Anglo-American fairly. Despite their frequent communication with Anglo-Americans and understanding of their culture, the Western Apache are almost always trying to remain as culturally separate from Anglo-Americans as possible. (Basso 1979, 30). Some Western Apache even advise their children, “Don’t be like white people. Don’t even joke. It’s no good. Leave it alone!” (Basso 1979, 30). In cultures like England’s, people can often identify a person’s social class by their register, dialect, grammar, and speaking habits.(Giddens 2006, 303). It is commonly perceived that “ Status differences lead to differences in ‘styles of life’ marked by such things as
This often happens due to the lack of understanding that some people have of other languages than their own. Whenever Christopher Columbus first discovered the Americas, (1492), he made little to no effort to comprehend the Native Americans’ languages. Consequently, Columbus thought that the land he discovers in the Caribbean were parts of Japan and China. He was also famous for generalizing all Native Americans by the label “Indians” which is still used throughout the modern dialogue. Later on, Columbus and many Europeans like him disregarded the Native Americans, held them captive, and colonized their land in the name of their European countries that they had once resided. Whenever catholic missionaries first entered the Northwest Amazon, they also had trouble understanding the native people. So it was hard for them to spread their religion amongst the natives until the natives and missionaries comprehended each other (Aikhenvald 2003, 4). The understanding of language, register, and dialect can also cause a separation amongst people and cultures. The previously mentioned Western Apache, have a relatively clear understanding of the “whitemen” or Anglo-Americans language; Consequently, they understand the Anglo-American fairly. Despite their frequent communication with Anglo-Americans and understanding of their culture, the Western Apache are almost always trying to remain as culturally separate from Anglo-Americans as possible. (Basso 1979, 30). Some Western Apache even advise their children, “Don’t be like white people. Don’t even joke. It’s no good. Leave it alone!” (Basso 1979, 30). In cultures like England’s, people can often identify a person’s social class by their register, dialect, grammar, and speaking habits.(Giddens 2006, 303). It is commonly perceived that “ Status differences lead to differences in ‘styles of life’ marked by such things as