The Cultural Job of Language Thus, language is also used to transmit values, laws, and cultural norms, including taboos. Language, since it expresses and reinforces culture, influences the personal identity of those living within the culture and creates boundaries of behavior. Those boundaries can include censorship.

Languages don’t limit our ability to perceive the world or to think about the world, rather, they focus our attention, and thought on specific aspects of the world. There are so many more examples of how language influences perception, like with regards to gender and describing events.

Vocabulary and grammar in different languages tend to shape our perception of the world and way of thinking. That is why translations into other languages are very difficult.

Linguistic identity refers to a person’s identification as a speaker of one or more languages. The linguistic identity is part and often an important part of our identity. There are different ways to explore what linguistic identity means to a person.

As a means of communicating values, beliefs and customs, it has an important social function and fosters feelings of group identity and solidarity. It is the means by which culture and its traditions and shared values may be conveyed and preserved. Language is fundamental to cultural identity.

Our language is actually our identity. The mother language plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s personality as well as his or her psychological development, thoughts and emotions. A new language gives us a new worldview and makes us more aware of the cultures, lifestyles, customs and beliefs of other people.

Language reflects the values and beliefs of a culture The differences between two cultures are reflected perfectly in their languages. Those contrasting values and beliefs can manifest in a variety of ways. Taking a look at common expressions and idioms gives you a glimpse into what a society deems important.

Language and culture are intertwined. You cannot understand one’s culture without accessing its language directly. When you learn a new language, it not only involves learning its alphabet, the word arrangement and the rules of grammar, but also learning about the specific society’s customs and behavior.

Language, Culture and Society provides an international platform for cutting-edge research that advances thinking and understanding of the complex intersections of language, culture and society, with the aim of pushing traditional disciplinary boundaries through theoretical and methodological innovation.

It is important for language learners to understand something of the culture of speakers of the target language. To focus on native language and culture, “cultural fluency” needs to be emphasised. This helps students to build communication skills and confidence necessary for social, travel and business situations.