Language and culture

By Yana Senina

Index

1. Introduction

2. Language of groups

3. "City of endangered languages" video

4. The intersection of language and culture

5. Proverbs reveal culture diversity: uncertainty-avoidance

6. Proverbs reveal culture diversity: non-verbal communication

7. Proverbs reveal culture diversity: self-evaluation

8. Exam speaking task

9. Sources (links)

10. Thank you page

Introduction

1. If you learn a language, how important is it to also learn about the culture of the people who speak it?
2. Are there many different ways of speaking your language and is one of them the "right" way?
3. How does language shape your identity?
4. How does culture shape your identity?
5. What exactly is culture? Is it static or fixed?

Language of groups

Draw arrows and match expressions on the right with the groups they belong to on the left. Add some more examples to each group if you can

1)Medical jargon2) American slang3) Football jargon4) School slang5) Business jargon6) Prison rhyming slang

a)Dunnob)Touchdown c)Pop quizd)The 9-to-5e)Bees and honeyf)Acute condition

Answer the questions

• Why do some groups create and use their own "languages"?
• What are the effects of having shared a vocabulary and language?
• How does language reflect culture? How does language shape culture?

"City of endangered languages" video

Watch the video and discuss the questions

• Why is New York so special in terms of studying rare languages?
• What does it mean for a language "to die"?
• How would you feel to learn years from now that your mother tongue was facing extinction?
• How integral is language to their sense of individual and group identity and culture?
• Comment on anything that surprised you in the video.

New York has long been a city of immigrants, but linguists now consider it a laboratory for studying and preserving languages in rapid decline elsewhere in the world.

The intersection of language and culture

There is a quotation hidden behind each picture. To see them, click on the photos. Choose a picture, read the quotation and say whether and to what extent you agree with the statement and why.

Picture 3

Picture 2

Picture 1

Picture 6

Picture 5

Picture 4

Group 1

Proverbs reveal culture diversity: uncertainty-avoidance

Low uncertainty-avoidance cultures

High uncertainty-avoidance cultures

Study the information on the left. Then discuss in a group:

• Which countries could be added to this ranking? Why?

• Does your country belong to high or low uncertainty avoidance cultures? How is it reflected in language?

• Do you know any more provebs similar to the ones presented on this slide?

A.

• “what is different is curious.”
• less tense and more relaxed

Life should be a dance, not a race. (Irish proverb)B.

• competitive
• treating leasure is a reward

If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again. (American proverb)

• “what is different is dangerous”
• wisdom of going slowly
• being cautious and reflective higher levels of anxiety and energy release

Even if the bridge is made of stone, make sure it is safe. (Korea)

Group 2

Proverbs reveal culture diversity: non-verbal communication

Study the information on the left. Then discuss in a group:

Low-context cultures

High-context cultures

• less attention on the context of a communication (such as implied meaning or nonverbal messages)
• rely on explicit verbal messages
• expressing one’s opinion as openly and forcefully as possible
• silence is negative and indicates confusion, a negative response to the proposed idea, or even anger

• the verbal message contains most of the information
• expect messages to be detailed, clearcut, and definit
• silence is positive and indicates respect, consideration for the idea the speaker has presented, and time to weigh the pros and cons of the statement and form a thoughtful response

• Which countries could be added to this ranking? Why?

• Does your country belong to high or low context cultures? How is it reflected in language?

• Do you know any more provebs similar to the ones presented on this slide?

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. (U.S proverb) Nothing done with intelligence is done without speech. (Greek saying)

Still water runs deep. (Japanese proverb) Empty cans clatter the loudest. (Indonesian proverb)

Group 3

Proverbs reveal culture diversity: self-evaluation

High power-distance cultures

Study the information on the left. Then discuss in a group:

Low power-distance cultures

• Which countries could be added to this ranking? Why?

• Does your country belong to high or low power-distance cultures? How is it reflected in language?

• Do you know any more provebs similar to the ones presented on this slide?

• power and authority are essential parts of life
• people are not equal in this world
• everybody has a rightful place
• hierarchy is established for convenience
• everything is predetermined in life

• inequality in society should be minimized
• complete control over their destiny
• emphasis of the role of individual

“Do not expect a stranger to do for you what you can do for yourself.” Latin poet Quintus Ennius Equality is difficult, but superiority is painful. (Serere proverb)

You can’t use your hand to force the sun to set. (Nigerian proverb )Always be patient with the rich and powerful. (Spanish proverb)

Pair work

Exam speaking task

Work in pairs. You are a candidate, your partner is an examiner. Your partner chooses a task for your individual long-turn speech. As you speak, your examiner takes notes on your performance (vocabulary, grammar, structure) and gives you feedback when you finish. Try to speak not less than for 2 min. Then swap roles.

Sources:

• City of endangered languages (video)
• Pardon my French (article)
• Proverbs reveal culture (article, PDF)

Link

Link

Link

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