The most important thing to know about the ultimate nature of language is the relationship between language and culture. The aspects of language and culture tend to be interrelated in a number of ways. The uniqueness of these two phenomena has made them significant subjects of sociological, anthropological, psychological as well as linguistic study. The language that a person speaks borrows a lot from his or her culture. Conversely, it is also true that culture determines language. Therefore, the two aspects have impact on each other, and they can be said to influence one another in numerous ways. Language and culture can be termed as inseparable aspects since language is ultimately part of culture and culture plays a fundamental role in the development of language. According to some scholars, culture would not be possible without language. Language has an impact on culture in that it reflects a person’s culture. In addition, culture shapes and determines the language that a person speaks (Risager 1-12).
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The ultimate nature of language and its relationship with culture is determined by the fact that language can be regarded as the symbolic representation of the cultural and historical backgrounds of people. Language also determines the way people approach life, their modes of thinking based on their culture as well as their ways of life. The intricate relationship between language and culture implies that the two cannot be separated. Therefore, one cannot talk about culture without language or vice versa. When one leaves out culture while discussing language, the significance of the two terms tends to be lost. Similarly, when one forgets about language while speaking about culture, there is also a gap in the meaning and the significance of the two terms (Jiang 328-332).
Language can be termed as the mirror of culture; this means that a culture can be better understood through its language. As such, language can be regarded as the iceberg of culture. An understanding of the language spoken by people gives a hint about their cultural background as well as the cultural beliefs that guide their daily lives. The notion of dialogue is instrumental in the understanding of the ultimate nature of language. Language plays a crucial role in the process of understanding; the process of understanding can be termed as a conversation since the text makes a significant contribution to the understanding of what is being spoken. The recipient of a message may have some prejudices while communicating with the other party. These prejudices and biases have to be projected to the text, and they should be adjusted in such a manner as to have some meaning from the text received (Risager 1-12).
The intimate relationship between language and culture and the ultimate nature of language can be demonstrated by the fact that many immigrants may retain their culture as well as speak their language of birth upon migrating to a new country. Immigrants always tend to have their heritage preserved; this heritage encompasses a mixture of language, culture, and traditions. Linguistic differences among cultures also serve as an indication of the ultimate nature of language. The differences in language often create divisions between people of different cultures. In most cases, people, even in the same nation, tend to be divided among ethnic and culture lines. This may create tribal and cultural warfare among groups of people, regardless of whether they live in the same neighborhoods (Jiang 328-332).
The behavior of most people tends to be embedded in the language they speak; as such, language can be regarded as an inevitable part of the culture. Cultural rituals, spells, curses, songs, stories, and prayers tend to be conducted in the respective languages of the cultures performing these ceremonies. Language also influences socialization and education. Language is a symbol of the culture of the people it represents; the linguistic stereotypes tend to be culturally specific. Language helps in the understanding of the cultural differences between people. Various cultural practices tend to be aligned to the language that a certain group speaks. The development of language has been a contributor to the development of cultural identities (Risager1-12).
Concluding this paper, it is worth noting that the most important thing to know about the ultimate nature of language is that culture and language are inseparable. There is an intricate relationship between the two, and each influences the other in numerous ways. Thus, culture influences language while, at the same time, language has a significant impact on culture.