Components of Culture: Language

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Components of CultureLanguage
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Language Defined

• A set of symbols that expresses ideas and allows
  people to think and communicate with each other.
• Can be verbal or nonverbal.

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Even within one language, confusion is common.

• How many interpretations can you think of for
  these sentences?
• Theres a fork in the road.
• He shot his mouth off.
• My neighbor had her second car stolen.
• The artist painted me on the porch.

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These are actual headlines taken from the
newspaper.

• Soviet ships collide, one dies.
• Obesity study seeks larger test group.
• Safety experts say school bus passengers should
  be belted.
• Squad helps dog bite victim.
• Drunk gets nine months in violin case.
• Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers.

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Can you answer these questions?

• Why are they called stands when theyre made
  for sitting?
• Why are a wise man and wise guy opposites?
• Why it called after dark when its really
  after light?
• Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the
  same thing?

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Understanding language becomes even more
challenging for non-native speakers.

• What do these Kiwi expressions mean?
• Spit the dummy
• Im stuffed!
• Do you have a torch?
• Are you in college?
• Hes had to do some hard yakka!
• Want some shark and tatties?

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Language can also be a source of discrimination.

• Language and Gender
• The use of the word man in words like chairman
  and mankind.
• Use of the pronouns he and she affects
  thinking about gender. For example, nurses and
  secretaries are usually referred to as she.

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Language can also be an expression of racial and
ethnic discrimination.

• Some words have more than one meaning and create
  negative images, such as blackhearted or a
  black mark on your record.
• Negative words can also become associated with
  groups, such as referring to Native Americans as
  savages.

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How important is it for members of one country to
speak the same language?

• How should a society balance respect for
  individual cultures and a need for unity?

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Language, Race Ethnicity

• The percentage of Americans who do not speak
  English at home has continued to increase over
  time.

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Language and Culture

• Language is an important way to transmit culture.
• Through language children learn
• about their cultural identity.

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Proverbs are one example of how culture is
conveyed through words.

• A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
• Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
• The early bird gets the worm.

What do these proverbs say about American culture?
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What do these proverbs mean?

• Lower your voice and strengthen your argument
  (Lebanese proverb)
• "When the brothers fight to the death, a stranger
  inherits their father's estate. (African
  proverb)
• Flies never visit an egg that has no crack.
  (Chinese proverb)

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African Proverb

• Abafugibwa ngabo atannagikwatamu ye agitenda
  obwangu.

• Those who are ruled are like the shield who
  never got hold of it, thinks it light. Those who
  don't rule think ruling is easy.

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Maori Proverb

• E moa i tangata ringa raupa.

• Marry a man with blistered hands.

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Mexican Proverb

• Anda tu camino sin ayuda de vecino.

• Walk your own road without the help of a
  neighbor.

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To Summarize

• Language is a set of symbols, which allows people
  to communicate with each other (both verbal and
  nonverbal)
• Language can be a source of discrimination.
• Language is a common source of confusion, even
  among members of the same culture.
• Language is a vital means of transmitting culture.