In the 1940s a linguist called Benjamin Lee Whorf claimed that speakers of the Hopi language (a Native American language spoken in North-Eastern America) and Native English speakers, view the world differently because of differences in their language.
Since this time, linguistic anthropology (the study of how language influences social behaviour) have endeavoured to explore how language shapes communication, cultural beliefs and philosophies, and forms social identity.
There has even been a popular TED talk, by Lera Boroditsky, dedicated to this subject which you can view here.
As you can imagine, the relationship between language and culture is deeply rooted, as language is used to convey our culture and views which have been instilled in us since our birth.
So, to what extent does the language we use help us to relate to our culture, and does learning a second, or more, languages alter our outlook and views on society?
Language Transmission
Language is transmitted culturally, in as much as it is learned from those around us.
It can also be taught, as it is when we begin to develop our speech and our parents encourage us to use new words to enlarge our vocabulary, or as in schools, when the formal structure of language is taught.
However, children develop their first language through exposure to the speech and conversations of those around them. They absorb the discussions of adults thereby picking up on basic vocabulary and grammar formulations, long before they reach school age and begin to comprehend the reasons why these formulations exist.
Regional and social dialects are instilled at a young age, and it is generally only once children reach school age that formal standards are prescribed and explored.
Language also plays a part in differentiating social and occupational groups within a specific culture, and this language transmission, through societal structure, appears to be self-perpetuating.
Language and Culture
Language forms a major part of virtually every culture within the world, but culture itself is a complex entity formed from many features which have boundaries that may overlap or coincide with other features, and likewise other cultures.
Throughout history, physical barriers such as mountain ranges, and oceans, formed natural blocks on the spread of language and culture, but with the advent of modern technology these boundaries have been virtually erased, so that communication between people and cultures around the world is now far easier and more widespread.
Language can also be seen as a nationalistic identifier which may divide or join states and people. The UK is an example of regional language differences which have proven problematic at times over the centuries, while Switzerland is a prime example of a multilingual country that thrives in its diversity.
Does the language I speak influence the way I think?
Language and culture have always been intimately linked but it is also believed that thought is a third strand which is affected by the previous two. Language provides us with the words to express our thoughts, our emotions and feelings, which is then defined by our use of language.
For instance, in English, there is only one word for ‘love’, so one might say ‘I love my family’ but we also say ‘I love fish and chips’. The love is a different type of love yet it is verbally expressed using the same word.
However, in Italian there are many ways of verbalising love. One might say ‘Ti voglio bene’ which is most frequently used for friends, family, or relationships that aren’t that serious. Or ‘Ti amo’ if it is a serious romantic interest such as long-term partner or spouse.
There are also instances when our own language cannot convey an accurate verbal description – we still experience the same thought, we just can’t express it vocally.
For instance, colours are expressed in different ways around the world yet we all see the same colour. So, an English speaker might say that ‘teal paint is my favourite’ while a member of the Dani tribe from New Guinea would describe colours through two basic shades, light or dark. It doesn’t mean they can’t see the teal coloured paint but they have no language with which to express the colour variations.
The influence of language on our culture and thoughts isn’t so much manipulating what we think about, but more about how we break the information up into reality and then categorise and label it.
Our ability to express our thoughts and emotions is influenced by our language and culture, but our thoughts aren’t limited to what we can actually verbalise, or even understand, as in the case of describing a smell or piece of music, as these are more personalised and difficult to communicate with words.
Learning a New Language
Learning a new language has a multitude of benefits including, delaying degenerative diseases such as, Alzheimer’s, introducing you to new ideas and concepts, enhancing your mental capacity for other new skills, improving your chances of getting a better job, and allowing you to communicate with people outside of your own culture or country.
It is unlikely to alter the way you think about most things, but it might mean that you’ll have a new appreciation for different cultures, or even offer you novel ways of thinking about certain perspectives or views that you may not have considered before.
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