Lesson 1: Language and Identity: Sociological and Cultural

Perspective Objectives

At the of the chapter, the students are able to:

a) analyze the relevance of society and culture to language development and
communication;
b) show the different western cultural influences to language development and
communication; and
c) create a simple collage that demonstrate/describe language and identity: its
sociological and cultural perspective.

What do I know?
Instructions: Read the statements and tick () the box that corresponds to your
answer.

Statements Strongly

Agree
1. Language is an invention of people in particular culture in order to
effectively communicated with each other.
Disagree

2. Language represents concepts that are not universal but just unique to
particular culture.
agree

3. Language determines how one thinks and processes information.

Strongly agree

4. Language represents a culture; therefore, to become a better speaker of

the language, one needs to be immersed or well-versed in the culture
where the language originates.

Strongly agree

5. Most language environments have words that are specialized and are used
only in those environments.
Strongly agree

6. Age does not really determine difference in language style.

 Strongly Agree

7. The words you use are determined by all the past experiences also known as
your field of experience.

Strongly agree

7. New meanings are continually created as people change their ideas,

feelings, and activities. As people think, read, travel, make friends, and
experience life, the associations and connections that words have for
these people are changed.
Strongly agree

8. Language and religion offer an innovative theory of religion as a class of

cultural representations dependent on language to unify diverse
capacities of the human mind.
Agree

10.The structure of language affects the ways in which its respective speakers
conceptualize their world or otherwise influences their cognitive processes.
Agree Disagree
Strongly agree

What is new?

Language- it is the primary tool used in communication process. This connotes

sharing one’s thoughts, emotions, and knowledge with others using a certain code
(culture) and symbols (language)that must be learned and shared between
communicators.

For example: A Korean classmate asks you the directions in going to Sleeping
beauty of Tinglayan. For the two of them to communicate they must establish
commonality in language first; otherwise, no communication will take between
them.

What are the linguistic elements of language?

1. Phonology- It is the sound system of the language.

2. Morphology- It is the study of the structure of words.
3. Syntax- It is the study of the structure of sentences.
4. Semantics- It is the study of meaning in language.
5. Pragmatics- It is the appropriate use of language in different

contexts. Why is language culture-based?

 Meanings are ultimately determined by people, not by words.
Language differences might even occur within a family. The world of adults is
different from the worlds of children or adolescents. They differ in values, vocabulary,
fashion, do’s and don’ts, etc.

Examples:
a) Parents might wish that their child were popular. But ‘popular’ to a teenage may
mean ‘being able to stay out late and own car’—possibly unacceptable
conditions to the parents.

b) The young love rock and pop music, but the old hate it.

What is the language environment?

Language Environment (Neil Postman)- Language is made up of four
elements: (1) people, (2) their purpose, (3) the rules of communication by which
they achieve their purpose, (4) the actual talk used in the situation.
All languages take place within a particular environment. Language
that is appropriate might appear meaningless or foolish in another.
Appropriate Language. For any society to function, it must have some sort of
understanding about which words are inappropriate. As children grow up, they try
out the new words they hear and from the reactions of the adults around them,
learn the new words they should and shouldn’t use.
Example is the use of euphemism.
Euphemism- It is an inoffensive word or phrase that is substituted for other words
that might be perceived as unpleasant.
Doublespeak -It is when Euphemisms are created by government or institutions.
Government agencies, business, or other institutions create euphemism to either
cover up truth or make the truth more palatable.
Example: Adolf Hitler used the phrase, ‘final solution’ when he meant the killing of
all the Jews, gypsies, and homosexuals in Nazi Germany.
Specialization. Most language environments have words that are specialized and
are used only in those environments.
Example: In a single day, you talk on the telephone to your classmate, teacher,
mother, friend. Each circumstance has entitled to different language environments,
and you have probable changed your speech.
The important thing to remember about a language environment is that you much
choose a language that is appropriate to it. The language used in one
environment usually does not work in another.
What are styles, roles, and group members in communication?
 Field experience- The words you use are determined by all your past
experience. The way you think and the way you talk are unique; they form distinctive
pattern.
Style- It is the result of the way you select and arrange words and
sentences. People choose different words to express their thought, and they
have a unique verbal style. Each person uses different style to suit different
situations.
Verbal style- Impressions of personality are often related to this. Since your
style partially determines whether others accept or reject you, it also influences
how others receive your messages. Verbal style is often connected with the roles
you play.

✔ Gender. Sociolinguistic Deborah Tannen (2009) has found out that men
and women have almost completely different styles of speaking. When women
have conversations, they use the language of rapport-talk while men use
report talk.

Rapport talk- This language is designed to lead to intimacy with others, to

match experiences, and to establish relationships.
Report talk- the speaker’s goal is to maintain status, to demonstrate knowledge and
skills and to keep the center stage position.
✔ Age. Age is one of the factors that determine difference in language style. Have
you noticed that when adults are often with babies their language style changes?
Their pith becomes higher and their vocabulary use becomes simpler. The brain is
the last organ to mature and scholars believe it to mature at age eight
approximately. Therefore, this is the age where our brain is susceptible to
language and the more exposed we are to appropriate use of language, the better
we are at using it when we get older. The more experience we have, the more
language or words are used.

✔ Social Status. Scholars have identified variations in language styles of people

depending on their social status.
Example: People in the business world will have a more brief and concise style
utilizing a more direct language because time is valuable.
Social Status is one of the reasons why languages are perceived to have certain
hierarchy Examples:
1) In the Philippines, People who speak impeccable English have more career
opportunities than those who cannot. That is why English is considered to be
the language of power and economy.
2) Emerging power of language is also because of the economic status of the
country like Korean, Mandarin, Japanese (Nihongo).
 ✔ Religion. Language and Religion offer an innovative theory of religion as a
class of cultural representations dependent on language to unify diverse
capacities oh
human mind. It explains basic features of religion such as the supernatural,
the normative abstract, and ideal theological concepts such as ‘God’, and
religious feeling. It develops a linguistic theory based on how utterances are
understood of metaphysical and moral ‘mysteries” and their key role in
thought and action.
What did I learn?
Task 1
Directions: Write at least ten (10) language differences that occur within
your family or barangay. (10 points)
1. When we children is talking to our parents we do not use harsh language or
called by their name because it is ashame or bain for us that showing we
have no respect.
2. When our parents are talking with each other they may called their name not
darling or whatever.
3. In meetings the elders of the brgy are the one who is speaking and the young
adult only agree or dis agree.
4. Sometimes there are also discrimination because men are only the one who
speaks in a cmeeting.
5. If we speak to visitors we speak with kindness and we avoid using harsh words
that maybe good for us but not for them.
6. To my siblings we speak like an ordinary people even without saying kuya or
ate.
7. When speaking to professionals we respect them saying uncle, or anty.
8. To our niece and nephews we can speak to them harshly when teaching them
some morality.
9. Task 2

Directions: Compare and contrast the gender in your community. You can at
least give five (5) each difference and comparison. (15 points)

Male

 In public speaking they are Female

the only who can lead.
 In public speaking they
 Their words is stronger than
have the right to speak but
women.
not to lead
 When men speak they speak
 Their words sometimes is
direct to the point.
not heard.
 Men
 When women speak they
use many vocabulary.
Task 3
Directions: Create a simple collage that demonstrates/describes language
and identity: its sociological and cultural perspective. You can use free pictures
in the internet or you can draw. (20 points)
Criteria
Content-10
Creativity-5
Presentation-5
Resource: Giron, Paraluman R., et.al.(2016).Teaching and Learning Languages
and Multiliteracies: Responding to the MTB-MLE Challenge. Quezon City,
Metro Manila: Lorimar Publishing, INC.