I am intrigued by different cultures, but sometimes I feel language is a barrier for me to learn these cultures. I could learn ways of cultures, but I would need the aid of a translator. Do you feel language separates us?
2006-12-13 12:33:50 · 6 answers · asked by Ann 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I suppose it depends on your mindset. To someone like you it should present few, if any, problems. Language CAN be a barrier, but it doesn't have to stop you; there are other avenues to investigate culture: books, ethnic restaurants (if you live in a large enough city), foreign movies, centers for foreign culture on American soil--like Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, the Fairfax district (mostly Jewish), the Russian district on Santa Monica Blvd; all here in Los Angeles. Other cities will have their own areas. If you visit such areas you will always find someone who speaks English as well as their native language. The problems arise when you go overseas, if you don't speak their language. However, depending on where you go, you will probably also find someone who speaks English--or is willing to practice their limited English out on you!
2006-12-13 12:47:41 · answer #1 · answered by Charles d 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a way yes, not just because not understanding what the other person is saying, but also because your language plays a huge part in the way you understand the world. For example, in the Inuit language there's something like 30 different words for "white" and not a single word for "green" (because they're surrounded by snow). Things like that and different figures of speech can create barriers even when you have learned to speak the other language.
2006-12-13 20:41:35 · answer #2 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not so much language that separates us, but the lack of communication and understanding.
In the mid 1800s a young Polish man saw the hatred in his home town and blamed this on language. He worked for years and created Esperanto, an easy to learn, regular logical constructed language with the dream that it would become the world's universal 2nd language.
Later in life he admitted that language alone could not bring about peace, his dream was a naive dream of a young idealist. It would take complete understanding to accomplish peace.
2006-12-13 21:14:56 · answer #3 · answered by rbwtexan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, language does seperate us. in fact, the bible story is that God made different languages b/c ppl were trying to climb a ladder to heaven. Since communication was important, God made different languages so the ppl couldnt work together. And you could easily learn about other cultures through the internet. And there's probably one person in that culture that speaks English.
2006-12-13 21:25:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Language does not separate us, it is culture that separates us. If you hated someone you would hate them just as much in French as you would in English or Spanish or Swahili. The key is in the values that we are raised with as a society, and fear. Fear of the unknown makes us act in very strange ways.
2006-12-13 20:42:38 · answer #5 · answered by Haveitlookedat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-12-13 20:36:23 · answer #6 · answered by Rina W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋