1. Linguistics is an interesting and objective study. It is useful in Anthropology as well as the study of other cultures because it does not only focus on communication. Linguistics is mainly the study of the meaning of different languages as well as their roots. This area of study is also used to study how language affects people in a physiological way. This aids in the field of Anthropology which is concerned with human biology and development. The specific branch of Anthropology which involves Linguistics studies humans through their speech as well as the languages that they know. This field of study is very important in Anthropology because language is something that has been around since the birth of man. In the beginning, when man was new to the earth, they needed ways to communicate with each other. Throughout the centuries, this way of communication has developed with the help of different beliefs and cultures. You can trace back to different times depending on the area of study, the people and the language that they speak. Countries that are close together often share the same kind of language because of the history within their culture. Linguistics is very important in studying culture not only because it is needed as a means of communication, but cultural roots and beliefs can be traced back from the languages certain people use. Anthropology makes use of artifacts and texts in order to understand older cultures. Linguistics and the way of speech often allows Anthropologists to better understand older cultures and their way of life. You can find connections in speech, words as well as beliefs by studying certain words within cultures. Different dialects and traditions can reveal a lot about a group of people. The evolution of language and the importance of communication between two different groups is an area that can help Anthropologists know more about cultures. Linguistics is more than just the study of different languages, it goes deeper than that; being the study of culture, beliefs tradition and so much more.
2. The idea that language and communication form structures which limit or sometimes showcase how people think or what they know is known as Linguistic determinism. This is a theory that can back up how language and culture are related because it is a study of different ethnicities. This is when people have names for certain things, making it easier to remember them. Studying language using the theory of Linguistic determinism allows anthropologists to understand more about certain cultures. Linguistic relativity is a form of linguistic determinism. The branch of linguistic determinism, known as the Sapir-Whorf, is where it is argued that cultures base their language structures on their experience as individuals. It is said that things are easier to remember when they are given a name. For example, the Eskimo culture has different names for snow, depending on where it is. This is because people from this culture experience snow all year round. Having a lot of snow, they named different types of snow. Whereas people from areas that do not snow or only snow once a year only have one word for it. The Philippine islands is rich in rice and the people of the Philippines have different words for the resource. Palay – unmilled rice, kanin – cooked rice, lugaw – rice porridge and so on. This is an important part of their culture because rice is their staple food. With these different words for the same thing, Anthropologists can learn a lot with this culture. As the theory suggests, different cultures can be examined and a lot can be learned just by studying their language. To be strong Whorf, it is meant that the spoken word and what is envisioned is directly related. A person is limited to what he sees and thinks, this determines the words that he says. The weak type of determinism states that this is not always a case. This type of Whorf is not as clear as the former. Language is believed to not be defined by perception of reality. A person is not just limited by speech.
3. It is true that we live in a world where cultures clash. Not everyone believes in the same thing, therefore there is conflict. These cultural clashes are usually the cause of lack of tolerance for others. Not only do we see this in the actions of people who are openly racist, but we can see this in those who have no respect or want to understand those who come from different backgrounds. The world is now smaller because of technology. People from different cultures and those who live thousands of miles from each other can now communicate. Unfortunately, instead of using this kind of technology for diplomacy or to bridge cultures, people use it to offend other people’s race, ethnicity, beliefs and backgrounds. Social media platforms allow people to communicate with each other through networks that have millions in their audience base. Instead of using that kind of power for good, most people get involved in it just to post stupid things that waste time. What is worse is that people use these platforms to disrespect cultures which they do not understand. It is sad to see that there are people halfway across the world living in poverty, it is even sadder to know that there are some people who do not care and even go as far ask making fun of these unfortunate people. We now live in a world that is very cross cultural. It is almost normal to see people in interracial relationships. Although, not all individuals (especially those who are ignorant or intolerant) do not accept these types of relationships; mostly because they grew up thinking that it is wrong. In order to build a structure where people can be more culturally tolerant, it is important for others to learn about different cultures. An important area to study is linguistics because it is the means of communication you can use with other cultures. Learning other languages is a way of saying that you respect a certain culture and want to know more about it. You can go even further by learning more about their traditions and their beliefs. Saying one thing in your language might be acceptable, however it might be offensive when directly translated. It is not enough that you learn how to speak another language. It is imperative that you delve into that culture.
4. Globalization is a big contributor in the cross culture world that we live in. This movement across the world is directly affecting cultures all around. Traditions and beliefs are shared through globalization and the dissemination of information. Capitalist businesses are shared throughout the world in an open market where most of the free world participates. This creates an opening for different countries to communicate with people across the globe. Because of globalization, countries get a taste of other cultures and even benefit from the inventions, businesses and information shared by countries willing to give. This movement is a mutually beneficial one that is bringing cultures closer together. Many people become more aware of other cultures, this triggers interest in them. When people find out where certain companies come from, they can then start investigating on the culture and learn more about the people. In a shallow example of the concept, if a car enthusiast is really interested in Italian supercars, he might want to learn the language and read about the history of cars in Italy. This might even make him inclined to learn the language. Eventually, his interest might even lead him to visit the country. This is an example of an individual. In terms of companies, in order to branch out and share information with other countries and people, it is important that they know and understand the language of the market they wish to penetrate.
