Language and Culture

Sociology Chapter 3 section 2

Symbols, Language, and Culture

• If culture is to be transmitted, each generation must learn it as if it were new

• The transmission and communication of culture depends on symbols

• The most powerful symbols are those that make up language

Each generation must pass on to the next what symbols mean, including how to read

What are symbols?

• Symbols are things that represent something else• They can be physical objects or sounds, smells, and

tastes• Sometimes, there’s no real natural connection

between the symbol and what it represents.• For example, why does the sound of rapidly

clapping our hands together signify some sort of approval?

• What other symbols do you know?

What do these symbols mean to you?

How are Language and Culture Related?• Language allows people to create culture• We don’t have to re-learn everything, because

people have written books and told stories, and we have learned from those who have gone on before

• We learn from our parents the danger of fire or falling down stairs– we don’t have to experience that danger ourselves to know its effects

• We also learn things like patriotism and religious beliefs from our parents and others

Since ancient times, people have told each other stories and passed down traditions

Can We Communicate Without Words?

• Play a game of Charades, and see how well you do

• How well do our hands substitute for words? • Does sign language work?

Sign language allows us to communicate without spoken words

The Sapir Whorf Hypothesis• Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf felt that

language affected our reality. • They called this the hypothesis of linguistic relativity• If we don’t have a word for something, then we

don’t think about it and it’s not part of our reality• English only has a few words to describe snow; Inuit

(Eskimo) has over 20 words to describe snow• In the U.S., time is important and we have many

words to describe time: nanosecond, moment, minute, hour, era, interim, century, afternoon, etc.

• What does that say about us?

Language is more than just a means of communication; it influences our culture and even the way we think.

Try to say what color these letters are:

The Sapir Whorf Hypothesis

• Watch the video “Can Language Affect How You Spend Your Money?” https://youtube.com/watch?v=US7wLCbZ84M

• Does the hypothesis of linguistic relativity mean we are prisoners of our own language?

• People can view the world differently when they learn a new language, and this can expand our understanding of other cultures

How has your

perception of the world

changed when you’ve learned another

language?

What other factors shape our perception of reality?

• Many Japanese use paper walls, and have thus learned to block out noise from other rooms

• American visitors to Japan are not used to being able to block that noise from another room

• Many Germans value their privacy, and so German executives close their door to their office

• American executives are not used to closing their doors, so that can cause issues when American companies are in Germany

Due to cultural differences, businesses often give their international agents advice on how to avoid insulting other cultures

Assessment

• Answer the four questions on page 79