A Relationship between Language and Culture
In Intercultural Communication
Language is to culture what hand is to body. Culture differs from one another, that each culture is unique. As cultures are diverse, so language is diverse too. Culture and language play a very important role in intercultural communication. What need to be stressed here is their relations.
Culture is the total accumulation of beliefs,customs,values,bahaviors and communication patterns that are shared learned and pass down through generations in an identifiable group of people ,that is to mean ,the culture structure is the sum of all users of that language and life style of a nation.Language is a system of arbitrary voval system used for human communication,therefor,we consider that language be a social phenomenon,a commnicating tool,a medium melting human and culture as a whole.Without language,culture will not exist.Language is the premise of culture＇shaping and developing.Form a dynamic view,language and culture interact with each other and shape each other.
The intertwined relationship between language and culture in intercultural communication has a dual sense：language is the keystone of culture and language is influenced and shaped by culture. We can dig out their deeper relations.
（一）
Language is the keystone of culture can be divided into three parts.
First, language is part of culture. Language is created by human and it is the indication distinguishing mankind and animal. A man with the capability of language must live in a language environment. Only in this case，he can acquire the language. To master a language ,one must live in the very cultural environment, or make every effort to learn the culture.Besides,the state of the people＇material world and mental world are belong to culture.For intense,it is quite common for immigrants to a new country to retain their old customs and to speak their first language amid fellow immigrants,even if all present are comfortable in their new language.This occurs because the immigrants are eager to preserve their own heritage,which includes not only customs and traditions but also language.This is also seen in many Jewish communities,especially in older members:Yiddish is commonly spoken because it is seen as part of Jewish culture.
Second, language can record culture. Without language, they maintain culture could not be possible. A good example of this is among graduates. Nowadays, it is hard for graduate to find a nice job, even to some， graduating from school means losing job in society, hence there are more students to choose to continue to study. A few years ago, it was a hot topic for chatting that “Have you graduated, where are you gonging to work?” while now, “Are you to continue your education” becomes popular topic.
Third, language can promote the development of culture. The popular word “blog” is a good example. It may deepen the understanding not only people but also the environmental culture, then promote the development of culture indirectly.
（二）
Language is influenced and shaped by culture： there are two aspects to explain it.
Firstly, of all the aspects of language, vocabulary is most closely associated with culture. Many words are culturally loaded ones to which we should pay special attention.It is these words that are very likely to cause problems in intercultural communication.For example,in China,the term“知识分子”generally refer to those people inclding college teachers and students,middle school teachers,and such people as medical doctors,engineers,interpreters who had a college education,however,in the U.S.and Europe,“intellectual”includes only people of high academic status,such as college professors,not ordinary college students.So the term covers a much smaller range of people.This is called culture bearer.Our culture sometimes are also more cultural reality.If we are in different countries,we must know their cultures,thus we can use the language freely.
Secondly, the culture both emancipates and constrains people socially, historically and metaphorically, and it is also affects its people＇imagination or common dreams which are mediated through the language and reflected in their life. Once an American was visiting the home of a Chinese .As the visitor saw the host＇wife, he said,“ Your wife is very beautiful.” The host smiled and said： “ Where? Where?” Which caused American surprised,but he still he answered:“Eyes,hair,nose……”This answer that the host found a bit puzzling.This surpring was caused by different cultures.Events likes this are fairly common when people of different languages and cultures communicate.Because of cultural difference,misunderstandings may arise,although the language used in conmmunication may be fautless.The same words or expressons may not mean the same thing to different people,because of cultural differences,a serious question may cause amusement or laugh,a harmless statement may cause displeasure or anger.Yet the same stories in the spaeker＇s country would leave audiences holding their sides with laughter.
Besides, we may learn it clearly by another example. The term native English speakers includes people of many countries—Americans, Englishmen, Australians and others. Each of these belong to a culture that is somewhat different from the others, in spite of their common language .Actually, even the language differs from country to country ，although such differences may not be noticeable at first. Such as lorries in England are called trucks in the U.S., Americans say you are welcome in replay to thank you， whereas Englishmen would say not at all or don not mention it or it is a pleasure.
As a English major student,we may complain that much time has been used in listening ,but little achievement has been acquired in order to improve competence of listening comprehension.Some students specially buy tape recordes for listening and spend a few hours every day on it,but once they meet new materials,still ,they fail to understand.The reason is that they are unfamiliar with cultural backgrand of the USA and England.Aural comprehension,which is closely related to the knowledge of American and British culture.Generally speakink,Chinese students study Chinese without the difficulties aroused by cultural background .However,when we read English articals,differences between Chinese and western cultures often bring us many difficulties. In other words, culture determines language in special aspect.
From what have mentioned above, we can have a conclusion that language and culture effect with each other well, we cannot avoid to learning the language and culture in intercultural communication.
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