Relation between Language and Culture

            Language and culture are deeply intertwined. One cannot understand one's culture without accessing its language directly. When one learns a new language, it does not include only the grammar and vocabulary of that language. It also means to learn about the specific society's customs and behaviour. When one wants to learn someone's language, he/ she must know the culture to which that language belongs. This is because language is very much ingrained in culture. That is why, it is said that "language is culture and culture is language". Not only this but Fatiah Guessabi argues that "culture is a language in itself".

          In fact, one of the salient features of language is that it is culturally transmitted. Language does not go from one generation to another genetically. It cannot be acquired by inheritance. Therefore, a child will learn the language of the people among whom and whose culture he is grown up. Language is learnt. It is taught to a lesser extent. Similarly, culture as a whole is transmitted very largely through language. However, language is a part of culture as culture includes much more than language.

          Language and Culture have homologous relationship. Language and culture developed together and influenced each other as they evolved. 

In this sense, great anthropologist, Alfred L. Krober has said :

"Culture started when speech was available, and from that beginning, the enrichment of either one led to the other to develop further."

          If culture is a consequence of the interactions of humans, the acts of communication are their cultural manifestations within a specific community. 

In this context, Ferruccio Rossi-Landi Says :

"A speech community is made up of all the messages that were exchanged with one another using a given language, which is understand by the entire society".

          Paralanguage also is used like language. It is also specific to culture. Therefore, communication with other ethnic (social) groups can lead to misunderstandings. When one grows up in a specific society, it is essential to learn the glances, gestures, tone and other communication tools to emphasise what one wants to do or say. Such specific communication techniques of one culture are learned mostly by imitating other people. Like Paralanguage, body-language or 'Kinesics' is concerned with language as well as culture. For example, in communication, one must know the culture of others to understand the postures and expressions of the people.

          Nowadays, intercultural interactions are very common. Communication is necessary for any person who wants to understand and get along with people whose background and belief are greatly dissimilar from their own. Similarly, cultural identity can be marked by language. A specific language refers to a particular cultural group. The set of attributes of a culture is expressed through language. Language is also used to point to objects that are unique to a particular culture. All this means that learning another language is essential for international communication and cooperation. The knowledge of other languages facilitates know-edge of other countries and the specific cultures of each one.

          Further, one of the common things between culture and language is that both continue changing. Both language and culture experience drastic changes over time. For example, a young boy and an old man do not share an identical culture and exact the same language even if they live in the same locality. 

Ravi Zancharias rightly says:

 "Changes in language often reflect the changing values of a culture".

          Next, both language and culture play a significant role in shaping our personality. Culture tells us how to interact with others and helps to shape our values and ethics. Similarly, language is like a tool using which we express our culture. In fact, cultural ideas and beliefs are transmitted ahead via language. Moreover, both culture and language allow us to peek into the past and shape our ideas.

           Thus, the relation between language and culture is quite complex and important. All people have culture and language. They point us toward our people and dectate how we view the world. If we are learning a new language, culture must be an integral part of our journey. We can only effectively communicate if we understand the culture of the people whom we are talk-ing. 

Let us conclude with the words of Buttjest :

"Culture learning is actually a key factor in being able to use and master a foreign linguistic system."