Task 2 - Language learning and Cultural Understanding
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:35 am
In order to learn a new language well one should get to know the culture and the lifestyle of the country where it is spoken. To what extent do you agree with this idea?
Perhaps the single most important skill that separates humans from other animals is the ability among humans to readily use vocal and written symbols to communicated ideas ranging from simple to highly abstract. This communications revolves not only around the idea to be conveyed but also around the sociocultural environment it is being conveyed in. As such it Is of high importance to be able to understand the dynamic relation of a culture and its language. This essay seeks to establish that being well acquainted with the related culture eases the process of learning language in its entirety.
Firstly, Language formation is a process that goes parallel to the cultural journey. As such a large part of the vocabulary deals with culturally exclusive things or traditions. As these words may not have any parallels in another language it is hard if not impossible to get a functional grip of these words. An example that can be stated here is of Eskimos who are a tribe that have 32 different words for ice, all addressing slightly different states of frozen water. It is not possible to understand all these meanings without having delved into the Eskimo life itself.
Secondly, Language can be very ambiguous depending upon the sociocultural conditions it is functioning in. Even words having close parallels in another language do not guarantee a proper multi-dimensional view of the word. As an example, famous American Guitarist Jack Johnson once got himself into an awkward situation during a practice session with musicians from a 3rd world African country. All he had said was that he was starving and needed to eat. What he did not realize was that the word ‘starving’ does not mean in Africa what it means in USA. The situation could have easily been avoided by being acquainted with the terrible conditions of the 3rd world countries. Understanding well the context of culture and lifestyle is crucial to the proper use of language.
Thus it is evident that language learning and cultural understanding are two complementary processes. In order to learn a new language well it is imperative to integrate the cultural content so that the dynamic relation between language and the condition it functions in can be understood.
(377 words)
Perhaps the single most important skill that separates humans from other animals is the ability among humans to readily use vocal and written symbols to communicated ideas ranging from simple to highly abstract. This communications revolves not only around the idea to be conveyed but also around the sociocultural environment it is being conveyed in. As such it Is of high importance to be able to understand the dynamic relation of a culture and its language. This essay seeks to establish that being well acquainted with the related culture eases the process of learning language in its entirety.
Firstly, Language formation is a process that goes parallel to the cultural journey. As such a large part of the vocabulary deals with culturally exclusive things or traditions. As these words may not have any parallels in another language it is hard if not impossible to get a functional grip of these words. An example that can be stated here is of Eskimos who are a tribe that have 32 different words for ice, all addressing slightly different states of frozen water. It is not possible to understand all these meanings without having delved into the Eskimo life itself.
Secondly, Language can be very ambiguous depending upon the sociocultural conditions it is functioning in. Even words having close parallels in another language do not guarantee a proper multi-dimensional view of the word. As an example, famous American Guitarist Jack Johnson once got himself into an awkward situation during a practice session with musicians from a 3rd world African country. All he had said was that he was starving and needed to eat. What he did not realize was that the word ‘starving’ does not mean in Africa what it means in USA. The situation could have easily been avoided by being acquainted with the terrible conditions of the 3rd world countries. Understanding well the context of culture and lifestyle is crucial to the proper use of language.
Thus it is evident that language learning and cultural understanding are two complementary processes. In order to learn a new language well it is imperative to integrate the cultural content so that the dynamic relation between language and the condition it functions in can be understood.
(377 words)