Language and culture play a significant component in the social integration and connection among the people of a certain community/society. They shape and influence the way people understand the world, communicate and interact to one another, and try to make and construct meaning from their daily activities. People frequently think and understand language as simply as a way of communicating and writing but it is so much more than that. Language is the most important means of communication through people’s identity, values, and beliefs. On the other hand, culture is something that keeps different communities/societies different and distinct from each other because of cultural situated norms and belief systems as well as ways of knowing and doings things and communicating and interacting to one another. Hence, language and culture are constantly connected and continuously shaping and influencing each other.
Language is an element that helps people distinguish the variations in cultural orientations of a particular community/society. Through language, people are able to differentiate themselves from the other. Also, it serves as a primary medium through which culture is passed on from one generation to the next. According to scholars, children acquire knowledge through contacts and interactions with people around them, then later assimilates and internalizes this knowledge to add it in their personal value. They acquire it through the stories told by the elders, words being uttered and used in their daily lives, and even the signs and symbols that are embedded in daily conversations. For instance, languages often have vocabulary that is greatly influenced by the community/society that may not have direct translations and counterparts in the target languages. For example, the Filipino word “bayanihan”—refers to a spirit of communal unity and cooperation that needs mutual assistance in which the members of a particular community/society work together to accomplish a difficult task without expecting anything in return, which is embodied and rooted in the Filipino identity and tradition. Likewise, the Japanese concept of “amae”—refers to emotional bonding and interdependence within relationships, typically found in mother-child relationships, that emphasizes emotional reliance and mutual support with each other. The examples provided tries to illustrate how language and culture might affect the way we perceive and understand the cultural identity and tradition of one’s culture.
Culture through language influences people’s thinking which may affect knowledge, beliefs, behaviors, perspectives, and goals in life. The difference in cultures may impact on people’s habitual thinking and behavior that may affect the way they communicate and interact with others, even the non-verbal cues, usage of words, and how they behave in the community/society. Many Asian cultures, like Korean and Japanese, demonstrated respect through acknowledging someone using a title and surname and there is a variation in the speech levels depending on the age or status of someone you are talking to. Contrary to Western cultures, they usually put a lot of value on personal freedom, leaders and subordinates are expected to listen and have an equal structure in society, and when talking to someone, they tend to be clear and direct with the words they utter. These differences require an understanding and awareness of the diverse culture of other communities/societies, not just knowing and understanding merely the vocabulary, grammar, and other concepts.
According to anthropologists, they would have difficulty understanding a culture without becoming familiar with its language and vice versa; that is why the relationship between language and culture becomes evident in multilingual communities/societies. Countries like the Philippines where numerous languages exist, diction may signify one’s identity, perceptions, beliefs, and expectations in a particular community/society. For example, the use of Filipino language may reflect national pride and identity while local languages like Cebuano and Iloco may reflect local pride, identity, and belongingness. Moreover, the English language signifies education and formality across culture since it is considered as the medium of instruction and communication to really understand one another. Due to differences in language choices, there is a high probability that a message will be misunderstood and distorted. Hence, multilingual speakers are typically sensitive enough when speaking to people who have a different culture to them.
Globalization poses challenges to the preservation of language and culture. Dominant languages like the English language becomes increasingly widespread whilst regional languages are at risk of extinction that largely due to lack of multigenerational transmission. When a particular language dies, the cultural knowledge and identity embodied within will be lost and vanished as well. As a result, people’s efforts in preserving and protecting their regional languages may be considered crucial for maintaining cultural diversity and uniqueness. Nowadays, many communities/societies are revitalizing and strengthening their language through integrating it into education like seminar-workshops, creating a media station that will air news, songs, stories and so on using the language, and incorporate cultural activities that will actively be participated by the people.
Furthermore, globalization creates opportunities and mutual understanding for intercultural communication. As people learn new languages, they will most likely expose themselves to many cultures and perspectives. Language learning develops 21st century skills, broadens one’s thinking, helps understand diverse cultures, and contributes to global competence. In line with this, it fosters career prospects, decision-making, and helps build connections and understand other cultures. It enables people to communicate and interact to participate in meaningful and multilingual communities at home and around the world. Through meaningful intercultural communication, people can build bridges of understanding and overcoming across social and cultural boundaries.
To conclude, language and culture are intrinsically intertwined, mutually shaping and reinforcing each other. Language serves as an organizer of knowledge and a means of social communication whereas culture is an inherited and innate ideas, attitudes, beliefs, values, and knowledge, comprising or forming the shared foundations of social action. Thus, language is the symbolic presentation of a culture. Almira S. Paraguas