Language and Culture Its What Brings Us Together Essay

Language today is a very misleadingly complex subject. Many people do not tend to see how it can be complicated; rather they think it is just the way we communicate and not much more. However, as any anthropological reader knows, it goes far deeper than that. One of the many other aspects of language is that it causes people to be brought together. A lot of international freshman tended to congregate with people from their own country when they first arrived at the University of Michigan, partially because they felt more comfortable speaking their native tongue and felt a sense of similarity in their group. This can be seen in any place where diverse groups of people are thrown together. It provides a sense of home, a way to make them†¦show more content†¦Also it seems he is capable in a decent amount of languages and could get a translator if he truly required it. The theme of language in these two novels can be seen through the ethnographers (in)ability to get an emic view from the locals, how it affected the people’s behaviour, and perhaps most importantly, how it affected the ethnographer’s and people’s emotions through the various situations that occurred. For ethnographers, being able to communicate with the particular population that they are studying is crucial. This is more so apparent with Fernea, as not only was she ignorant of the language and customs but while honeymooning in Iraq she was constantly separated from her husband. This becomes obvious very early on when she attempts to indicate that the beams in Selma’s house were the same as hers by pointing at them, unable to even get across this simple conversational tidbit (Fernea 1965:30). Though her crowd reacts favorably by laughing, as the beams are the same in every house around the village, it is a subtle moment of foreshadowing to just how little she knows about the culture in the village. This forewarning is noticeable mainly after she makes a particular blunder much later on in the book. Fernea was invited to go on a small ride by Aziza while her friend Laila happened to be visiting. Aziza insisted that Laila come along, as not doing so would be impolite, and Laila claimed that the ride would be of no issueShow MoreRelatedCulture : The American Culture1014 Words   |  5 PagesCulture cannot be defined because it is completely unique to the individual. Culture is something that we choose to create which helps identify ourselves as a person. Throughout the world there are many different cultures. Culture can can be based on things such as language, religion, and tradition or customs that we were raised in. Culture allows for groups of people to come together with similar interests and backgrounds to come share one common ground. Culture is everywhere we look and is in ourRead MoreAssignment 2 : A Multicultural Society807 Words   |  4 PagesPaper A multicultural society is where a diverse group of races, cultures, and different ethical background coexist together in a country, state, city, community or neighborhoods. Basically, a ground of people from different backgrounds living together in the same community. Multiculturalism is when these diverse groups have the same rights and treatment in society or by society. Multiculturalism is when different racial groups and cultures have the same opportunities, and equal rights without prejudiceRead MoreRelationship Between Language And Culture1678 Words   |  7 PagesLanguage in Culture The relationship between language and culture is as old as mankind itself. Throughout the centuries, people and their living practices have evolved, resulting in wide-reaching changes in socialite culture. According to many individuals around the world, language is one of the epitomes of life, a source of connection to or divorce from the face of public. Anyone who has had to navigate through the plethora tongues around the world knows that the revelations of the Tower of BabelRead More Language Essays960 Words   |  4 PagesLanguage Language is essential; language is what we use to communicate among others. It is something that joins us just as strongly as it separates us. There are many different â€Å"languages† in the world but really they are all bound by certain rules, they all have a format that they follow, all of them have, nouns, verbs, tenses, and adjectives. Language is almost like a math, the point of it is that when you speak, you try to reach a conclusion with a different person, and in math you use equationsRead MoreSociological Imagination On A Micro Or Macro Scale883 Words   |  4 Pagesimagination is the study of society on a micro or macro scale. The term was first used by an American sociologist C. wright mills (1916-1962). This unique quality of thinking allows a person or a group to think or feel about society in general around us or in relation to a larger group to emphasize the connection between personal and structural (group) issues or trends. In other words, a sociologist trie s to understand why things are the way they are. Sociological imagination is the ability of thinkingRead MoreGreek American Ethnicity Among Age Cohorts Under Changing Condition1389 Words   |  6 Pagesstill have to experience and others where we find ourselves so closely related to a mere stranger. In this essay, I will compare and contrast two very different communities and how their affluence and perseverance in this wonderful melting pot of cultures that we call America has come to be. I will be discussing Stavros Constantinou and Milton Harvey’s â€Å"The persistence of Greek American Ethnicity among Age Cohorts under changing condition† in comparison to Elizabeth Chacko and Ivan Cheung â€Å"The formationRead MoreMusic And Music : The Impacts Of Music In Globalization1162 Words   |  5 Pagesthat’s what put the music on the top of the global languages for connecting people to each other however from any countries belong. Globalization of Music is very important because music is global language, makes people closer and music as treatment for many people. I. Music is global languages between all the people around the world. A. Music is the universal language of all mankind. 1. People cant travel around the world and be able to communicate with everyone through their native language, butRead MoreThe Effects of Globalization on Cambodia Essay888 Words   |  4 PagesGlobalization is defined as the act of creating connections between countries across the globe in terms of culture and economy. Almost on every part of the world, citizens have become a part of the global village. Even though various researches stated that there are negative effects of globalization for particular reasons, the positive impacts were clearly shown to be stronger especially in developing countries such as Cambodia. To begin with, tourist travel is one of the main negative impacts ofRead MoreIs The Bible True?1528 Words   |  7 Pagesif we believe the bible to be true, then we must put in the work to understand the language. This will enable us to understand the Bible itself. Placher is basically trying to prove to us the Bible is true without turning to modern day themes and arguments to prove this. Hence, why he uses old texts from history and sections of the Bible in his article. He tells us in his article about how some of the topics he brings up from the Bible might not directly correlate with their modern day counterpartRead MoreThe Study of Linguistics Essay1450 Words   |  6 Pagesof Linguistics Language changes with history and time. Our perception of words changes. Everything changes, from cooking with a fire to cooking with a microwave. Some examples of the ways language changes are through accents, books, slang, influential people, and historical events. Accents show development of culture over time, maybe through a historical event, such as a new country being found. The people living there might adopt the culture of the founders. Language also changes, from