The Relevance of Language and Culture in Education

Running Head: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 1
An Understanding of Language
Name
Institution of Affiliation

Running Head: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 2
Introduction
Language is the mode of communication, either verbal or nonverbal, consisting of the use
of sounds, gestures symbols, signs and words structured and conventional way to express
emotions and thoughts (Hoff, 2009). It is the primary means in which individuals form, evaluate,
describe, express, and control their experiences. The spoken language is the child’s first, crucial
and frequently used structured mode of communication. Verbal communication is exclusive to
human beings. We exchange knowledge, opinions, beliefs, threats, commands, feelings and
information by the use of language.
Development of language begins at an early age. Children from an early age start to
develop the ability to communicate; that is understood, process, and produce language (Gerken,
2007). The language use is common to people from the same geographical area, community,
nation or shares the same cultural traditions. It influences political, cultural and social practices
of the people of the same geographic area. The verbally spoken language is the prime mediator
of culture. The different means in which children and individuals locate themselves in the world
and identify themselves with it. It defines the cultural social and political practices and
understanding of people (Baldwin & Meyer, 2007).
Language is one of the most significant forms of human behavior. It is believed that
speaking is a social act. Language associated with the social systems that make up the
individuals world experiences. Language is the mechanism that different professionals use to
regulate and mirror the society to order, control and transmit issues affecting the current and the
next generations. Parents always pass their language to their children who continue the curve.
Language studies in the context of situations in which it occurs.

Running Head: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 3
The understanding of language as open and continually evolving encompasses the
complexity of communications (Emmitt & Pollock, 2017). The social understanding of language
makes education experiences more engaging for the student at an early stage of learning.
Language is a way of observing, interpreting and communicating the activities and experiences
about the world through one’s language. Language is purposely used to communicate, and
people who want to learn how to communicate using a different language undergoes through
learning the use words, rules, and symbols about other language. They use it to communicate and
interact with the native speakers. One gets to interact with the language speakers to learn. This
understanding of a language not only recognizes a words or signals as the source of knowledge
and information but also as a social practice act. People use language in their everyday lives to
express themselves, interpret different meanings, to define and maintain the social and
interpersonal relationships with other people. Language, therefore, is a social practice.
The learners of new language need to understand how language creates and passes on
different meanings and how to interact with other users. It requires understanding and awareness
of social aspects of the language. Language learners should not focus only on the grammar and
vocabularies associated with a language as the way one interacts with it matters when
communicating. The social interaction with a language plays a key role in understanding one's
language. Therefore language is a social practice in the society. Language defines social
practices.
Culture is multi-faceted. According to Norton (2004), culture is dynamic and always
changing. People often select and reject different elements of culture to fit in situational context.
Through the daily interactions and relationships, culture is a construct between the existing
power structures and society. It influences the language as it is dynamic and changes with the

Running Head: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 4
society. Language involves the codes and values of a given society. The language changes due to
culture change.
One’s cultural knowledge is important in facilitating communication with other people.
Therefore, for one to understand a different language, they need to acquire information and
understand their language. Understanding culture with its practices is essentially important to
learning a language. Language learner gets to understand themselves in about the cultural
practices of the language they are learning.
The nature of language and culture is crucial to the process of learning a new language.
That is, language alone does not convey meaning. It is language in the context of the cultural
framework in creating and interpreting meaning of different words. Understanding new
languages, one has to commit with the ways and learn how context affects communication.
Culture influences on the basis the meaning is created or communicated and understood by
others. Language creates awareness of modes in which culture interrelates with a language when
spoken (Liddicoat, Papademetre, Scarino, & Kohler, 2003). How people of a given culture
performs their beliefs and values, the rules regulating their behaviors and daily livelihoods.
Culture is a body of knowledge and information about a given society. Culture provides
people with guidelines for behaviors. These are the skills, beliefs and customs specific to a
particular group of people. Language is a means of expressing culture. It is expressed in various
ways such as knowledge about cultural artifacts of works, places and institutions of a given
culture, knowledge aspects about symbols and events, or as knowledge about places or way of
living. It is considered as an aspect of culture regarding information and teaches language as if it
is a set of learnable regulations and rules. Culture is not just a body of knowledge but also a
framework where people live their lives and share meanings amongst themselves. Language