EDF5640 - Language, Culture, Identity: Self-Study Reflection Essay

This essay delves into the intricate relationship between language, culture, and identity, particularly within the context of early childhood education. Drawing upon Stuart Hall's theories, the essay emphasizes that language, culture, and identity are intertwined and mutually constitutive. It explores how language shapes our understanding of the world, influences our political views, and defines social practices. The essay also highlights the relevance of understanding language as a social, cultural, and political practice for educators, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's own biases and promoting fairness in the classroom. Personal reflections from a teaching experience further illustrate the complexities and dynamics of language in a diverse classroom setting. The essay concludes by underscoring the significance of cultural knowledge in facilitating communication and the role of language in expressing and shaping culture. Desklib provides this essay as a resource for students seeking to deepen their understanding of these critical concepts.

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An Understanding of Language
Name
Institution of Affiliation

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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.

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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

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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

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development involves more than understanding knowledge of people and places; It also means
learning and shaping the different people's cultures and way communication.
Language is an expression of how we see and understand the world. It shapes the way
different people with different languages structure the world into political divisions of ‘this and
that’, ‘them and us’ and how we understand the politics and experiences in contrast to those of
other groups or individuals (Butler 2006). The use of the word ‘other’ has a real effect on people
as the use of such words is what creates the divisions among people of different cultural
backgrounds. It is very harmful to the human race as it has real effects and creation of terms like
racism, culture, gender, sexuality among others. Most of these terms learned in language
development in the society. Language plays a big role in political views and opinions of people.
The language of different groups means different beliefs and values, leading to the different
interpretation of political statements. It leads to the political differences experienced across the
world.
A language is a political tool used to make statements about other people and ourselves.
Language instates an ‘us’ syndrome where everyone associated with specific language is
assumed to have a political stand and associated with a particular group. The countries speaking
more than one language are usually divided into political groups with each group having
different political views. People speaking the same language tend to have the same political
opinion due to the same cultural backgrounds making them have the same beliefs, values, and
knowledge influenced by language. Language makes meaning through shared and common
understanding of certain words, phrases and frame of references. The political practices also
generate its meaning from these shared references.

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Different cultures are speaking different languages usually have perceptions, narratives,
and experiences for different people. For example, indigenous and nonindigenous people have
varying political terms due to different perception and political views which influence the
political practices. Learning other people’s languages goes a long way in understanding them and
broadens your perceptions and interpretation of ideas and views (Hoff, 2011). Language learning
assists one appreciate the beliefs and values of other people different from their language. It is
evident that one’s language influences their political views and opinions. The interpretation of
political ideas aims at fulfilling the interest of a group of people geographically bound or
community-based. Political practices involve interactions and interrelationships amongst
individuals. It aims at improving the conditions of individuals or group of people for the
satisfaction of human needs. Language and political practices influence each other in different
ways as explained above.
Relevance of Language to Educators
There is a fine line between language and communication. In simple terms, language
refers to the way in which human beings are able to communicate. Research recorded in the
Ethnologue catalogue, one of the best- known sources of linguistic resources, presently lists 7097
distinct living languages (Simons & Fennig, 2018). Most people will hypothesis that the reason
for the variance in the many languages would be the different cultures, social settings, political
factors as well as the geographic variables (Gavin, 2017). One significant yet often unconscious
way in which people are able to present themselves to others is through language. Language
plays a major role in identifying ourselves to others, linking us as either similar or separating us
as different. This essay will thus evaluate the relevance of the understanding of language, in its
various aspects, to early childhood educators. Further, the essay will discuss the interrelationship
between language and society, culture and politics.

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Discourse is a theory that explains the workings of language in the society. James Paul
Gee a professor of literacy Studies, defined Discourse as the way in which people act, dress,
speak, feel, value, believe, read, write and think (Gee, 2011). Educators are obliged to
understand their own Discourse as it can be a factor leading to inequity in classrooms. In
learning discourse, the educators increase the chances of fairness of learning opportunities for all
students. Individuals enacts their identities in what they say and how they say it and sometimes
this is influenced by their history, power and context used by the person (Rogers, Malancharuvil-
Berkes, Mosley, Hui, & Joseph, 2005). Discerning personal discourse is a pathway to align an
individual’s identity alongside figuring out teaching practice (Stevens, 2014). Additionally, it is
about understanding how messages from a person’s family, culture, religion and society has
influenced a person’s views and believes and how the same may affect an individual’s view on
teaching and learning.
Personal reflection
My first teaching job was to teach small children during one of our church programs. The
experience gave me insights to the complexities and dynamics of language in a class setting.
Even though one key role of educators is transferring knowledge from one person to another, I
felt like I learnt a lot from the children as well. In the different activities undertaken in the
classroom I would realize that the children are a curious lot. I understood the importance to
encourages curiosity for surrounding in the child, helps them develop analytical and critical
thinking skills (Jalongo & Isenberg, 2008). This can be done though the effective delivery of
language. I realized how big my role as an educator is in creating meaningfulness in the way in
which a child will apply knowledge in the future. The children would hang on my every word.
They believed that the teacher was right.

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Occasionally the children would have fights about their differences in cultural
backgrounds. I would sharpen the child’s sensitivity by teaching them the virtue of sharing and
caring not only for themselves but also other companions and the surrounding. Further I would
make them learn that they have to live in harmony based on the progressive values learnt through
mutual respect and accepting differences (Jalongo & Isenberg, 2008). In order to deliver my role
effectively and efficiently, I began to understand that I have to be aware of my identity. In
essence, this means fully appreciating my own beliefs and biases. Such understanding helped me
better tackle the issues that would ensue in class without being biased in my judgment. I had a
very diverse class with children from different background. In such a situation one begins to
realize how language affects the people around us.
As an educator I appreciated my crucial role in the progress of a children and had to
devise strategies in my lesson plans on how to impact knowledge in them. Undeniably, school is
an important social setting for a child and language is the bridge for social interaction while at
school. Education institutions draw students from all kinds of backgrounds (Kumaravadivelu,
2008). And from different backgrounds, people are cultured differently; therefore, language
difference is common in schools. For instance, in my short period with the young children, I
would notice that the students from the very diverse backgrounds different from the majority of
the children in class experienced difficulties assimilating to the foreign language in way of doing
things. This I would observe that it would hinder the child’s academic potential and social
participation. Sequel to this, the child retreats, develops social defects, emotional defects or low
self- esteem. Understanding this stands as a guide to an educator’s teaching practice.
Additional, `I understood the essentiality to allow children to express themselves both
culturally and personally. Therefore, I would build my class schedules to accommodate where
the children would come from in order for them to build confidence and resilience in who they

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are (Christie, 2005). My experience with the children greatly shaped my comprehension of
language, culture and identity. In culture, everyone has a place, context, and respect for each
other. Understanding culture is one method to encourage belonging and above enabling
opportunities for children to express themselves. All this develops a child to behave in a way that
will be acceptable in the future. It grows their attitudes towards themselves as children, how to
get along with peers, show respect for teachers, and evolves their inner voice of morality and
values. On top of that, it socializes children to be more accommodating to others. These are all
integrated and cannot be separated since they help in character building for both the educators
and Students implemented through language.
Language is a set of complex systems interacting with a set of other complex systems. To
be able to better understand language, one requires a set of cognitive and symbolic skills
(Christie, 2005). A lot of times it the ability to recognize the different characters in children.
While others easily understand and express themselves clearly, some may find it difficult to
express themselves in words. Educators need be able to identify this and opt for other means of
expressions such as the use of symbolic things such as pictures and toys. It is the role of
educators to identify what is appropriate and inappropriate for a child. Though language is a tool
for social interaction, it is not limited to communication. Language is also about translating our
comprehension of what we read and hear about into written form. If there is a break down in the
comprehension of what is heard or read about then the same will be reflected in written speech.
Without a doubt, the role of teachers has changed significantly over the years. The
community demands and expects more out of education institution (Graham & Phelps, 2003).
Political agendas drive the nature and practices of learning. Teaching as a practice has become a
versatile process demanding a person’s intellect, social skills, morals, emotions and aesthetics. In
such context, the relevance of continued learning to maintain professional practice should be

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emphasized. Educators who thus maintain their ideologies in their practice fail to show concern
for social change. A cluster of ideologies of teaching constricting it to a particular structure of
individualism and acceptance of hierarchy are some of the reasons how teaching can be
ineffective. Language ideologies are used as concepts in sociolinguistic and cross-cultural studies
as it draws a connection between the beliefs that an individual has, and in this case about the
practices and methodologies of teaching (Mar-Molinero, Stevenson & Stevenson, 2016).
For educators joining the teaching practice, it may difficult in the beginning to adjust to
the teaching culture since they are at the same time coming into an identity of whom they are and
how to teach (Mantei & Kervin, 2011). It is a lifelong process of deliberation and comprehension
of oneself as an educator. Such understanding provides self- assurance to be open- minded not to
mention making an enlightened judgment about situations. Four basic factors resonate with the
need for a teacher to come into identity and beliefs. One is opening up to opportunities to talk
about genuine beliefs and concerns thus building trust. Two; an opportunity to reflect upon
oneself. Three; making a judgment from personal experiences. Lastly, is research within the
context of teaching. A collection of these elements assist in refining an individual’s personal
philosophies of teaching (Mantei & Kervin, 2011).
In the context that language is viewed as a social practice, children should be allowed to
go beyond what is taught to them and to the unknown and unpredictable facets of language. As a
tool of communication, language is a dynamic system. It should be understood and delivered that
engages the students as independent users able to analyze the language even as it evolves. In
developing language capabilities educators should ensure that they strike a balance in the
curriculum taking into consideration language as a code and as a social practice (Byram &
Grundy, 2003). As a code, it refers to the rules and compositions of words while language as a

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practice is in the integrated complexities of the nature of language to be dynamic, open and in
constant evolution.
It is evident that language has quite a role to play in education. It has a direct impact on
the teaching practice, methods of delivery to the students, values, and attitudes to both the
students and educators themselves. For educators to maintain their professions in teaching they
have to understand language in all its aspect. They should be open- minded and willing to learn
since language is dynamic in nature. Understanding of the complexities if language helps
eradicate bias judgments of culture. Furthermore, it enlightens on the influence educators have in
shaping children’s characters and molding them into future leaders. Over and above that such
understanding assists the teachers in their career to come into their identities as more
professional leaders.
In conclusion, it is safe to agree that language influences the understanding of social, political
and cultural practices. Language plays a critical and important role in the social, political and
cultural practices of individuals or groups of people. Language determines beliefs, knowledge,
perception, experiences, and values of a group of people. Learning other people’s language
enables learns to interact with understanding and respect other cultures and understand how to
relate and socialize with them. It creates an understanding of the beliefs and practices of other
people leading to respect for other cultures and people from different cultural, political and social
backgrounds.
Conclusion
The role of language in the social, political and cultural practices cannot emphasize more
as it is clear the language affects these aspects of people’s lives. Culture, for example, influences
people’s way of reasoning and acting. For people to learn how to coexist, we need to learn to

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appreciate and understand the different cultures and language. It is also important to learn
nonverbal differences in language from different people as they have different meanings and
misinterpretation may cause mistrust and conflict.

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