The Languages and Different Cultures and Communities - Literature review Example

 Language: According to the dictionary, the term language refers to a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols. It is the mode by which a person utters a speech in order to express himself and get a message across to someone else. Language is something that exists all around us; it is a mode by which an individual gets an opportunity to put across or convey some meaning. As understood by the world renowned linguist, Noam Chomsky, a language may be envisaged as “a set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements.” (Chomsky 1957:13) Thus, a language can be understood as something that constitutes a string of words, either verbal or written, or even a few symbols to indicate what something would mean or refer to. Other definitions of the term language include terminology which refers to computer coding and language. That is the process of communication by which a computer understands, via codes, what to execute and when to carry out its tasks and perform its functions. So in every way, some form of language or the other is required to make someone or something understand what needs to be done, or merely, to express feelings or emotions. As discussed earlier, language basically boils down to the medium by which people facilitate communication among themselves in order to exchange thoughts, ideas and ideals. It is the mode by which people can understand each other and live together in harmony. The society we live in consists of a number of languages; these are merely the ways of expressions of different people. Different countries and states speak their own languages, because this is the way by which they are comfortable carrying out their daily duties and responsibilities. A language therefore is not just an utterance of meaningless words, but a feeling or an emotion that is attached to an individual. Identity: The word identity is a very widely used word; it is something personal that is attached to a single individual. An identity is a distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity; it refers to the individual characteristics by which a thing or a person may be recognized by. It may also refer to something that is exactly same or ‘identical’ to each other. Identity thus means something that is a person or a thing’s own and no one can take it away from him or it. It is attached in a manner that it distinguishes the object from another. There have also been cases of identity theft where someone may steal the identity of something else. This usually happens in terms of commerce, in the market, where different products and brands create their own identity and an upcoming company might cater to the idea of theft to gain their position. People create their own identities within the course of life, and that is what they come to be known by. Great people from history are known today because of the identities that they have created for themselves; it refers to creating a niche for oneself within society. When joined with the term ‘language’, identity could be given to a group of individuals that speak a certain lingo and have made it their identity to be so. Today, people may be known by the language they speak, the country they live in, etc, and all this forms part of their identity. Community: Community refers to a group of people living in a particular local area; or people having common ownership over something. It could also mean a group of people sharing the same environment. The word community has become very popular these days; people associate themselves as part of a group and not as single entities because it helps to provide them with a security and mentally backing factor. This means that most people are afraid to stand out because of what they are, and that is why, they find a group of people that share the same common interests or indulge in the same habits, and form a community. Communities may be formed on the basis of caste, religion, language, or race on the bigger scale. However, in day to day life, people even form smaller communities where there is a single factor that binds all the people within that group together – it could be a shared interest will to do something, or even a common goal or objective that a group of people might want to achieve together. Forming a community sometimes is a viable option, because only when a person has a certain number of witnesses or people to back his statements, he will be accepted in society. Thus, it is something that people form sometimes, even out of pure compulsion; in order to be accepted by the majority within the environment. Clubbing the three terms together, we come to a conclusion that language, community and identity go hand in hand with each other. This is because a language can be viewed as something that gives a unique identity to a certain group of people who then come together to form their own community. This entire exercise gives us an insight into sociolinguistics, and how it is something that is important and is practiced in every part of the world. (Bucholtz 1999) Entry 2: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is widely based on apartheid prevailing in the United States of America. In this way, the blacks are part of an oppressed community and the book is based on how a lawyer is trying to fight for the rights of a black man who has been charged of raping a white girl. The main objective of the narrative is based around such a vast community and the two protagonists in the story, Jem and Scout are no exceptions to this. They conform to their environment in different ways. The boys have their own identity within their neighborhood and community; however even then, they accede to whatever everyone else is doing. For example, they are as terrified of their neighbor, ‘Boo Radley’ as much as everyone else around them. However, since they are children, they still are curious to know why the community has taken such a stand towards the young boy and his peculiarities. In this story, language, community and identity plays a great role because it helps the different characters in understanding their own stand within society. Since the novel greatly shows the demarcation between the whites and blacks in the state, there is also the subsequent existence of two different and separate communities. Each of the people within these communities shares the same ideals and wishes to be liberated from the terrible position that they are caught within because of the color of their skin. It deals with the ethics within society and how the identity or community that one person belongs to should not bother another simply because of the difference in opinion or ideals that is practiced by the other person. Entry 3: A very interesting read that I had recently was because of a book called “Uglies” written by Scott Westerfield. This book deals with differences among people which lead them to form their own communities and it also deals with how people may or may not give in their separate identities in order to be part of the status quo. It is sad to know that many people do not have the maturity level that can help them to understand how important it is to have your own individual identity and not give in to what others think, or do something exactly as someone else would. The themes in this particular book deal with the younger generation and its view of what looks and qualifies to be termed as ‘pretty’. It deals with all kinds of changes that children go through during their adolescence; emotional, physical as well as mental changes. Different parts of the book deal with how a young girl would view herself to be in front of herself as well as other people and not give in to peer pressure. Thus, in this book, at the age of sixteen every individual goes through a series of exact changes that leaves them looking identical as others in terms of looks, and they end up looking the same kind of ‘pretty’. This book teaches the reader how to deal with staying within a community, not because of forced shared interests, but because one wants to. It also deals with how one loses their own identity and how losing an identity can prove to be fatal because without it, a person is actually nothing. Only with the help of an identity can someone help to establish themselves within society. Entry 4: ‘Into The Wild’ by Jon Krakauer proved to be a very exciting read as part of my fourth entry within this journal. This book is based in the form of diary entries in a young man’s life that is frustrated with society and frowns down upon the actual social norms that prevail. Christopher McCandless was a young man with the best academic and social life that he could hope for. However, after a point in his life, he realizes that having all these accolades on his plate is not worth it if he hasn’t had a taste of life to his satisfaction. He believes that people indulge only in the material things in life and do not care about the inner depths of emotions and feelings. He feels that most people do not even know how to live with each other in harmony, and make excuses in order to be able to complain about the way of life. All he hoped for was some peace and love and to feel all these emotions in the lap of nature, in the wild. He believed that being in the wild, in Alaska, would give him all that he could hope for. He wanted to get away from society and mankind; as far as possible, and experience a unique life that he could create for himself. In this way, he loses out on his only identity in the process. He gives up all his finances and accounts, not to forget his parents and his younger sister. He gathered enough will power to separate himself from his loved ones, and traverse into the wild. He finally gave up on his name as well, because according to him he could not have started a new life otherwise. Thus, he adopted the name Alexander Supertramp somewhere along the course of his journey towards Alaska. From then on, he camped with random hippies and gypsies, found food and shelter here and there, and kept travelling with a will to live in the cold and wild forest regions. Along the way, he met a few people who he interacted and stayed with and they all wondered whether he was actually happy ‘now’ after having done what his heart had told him to. They asked him whether leaving behind his parents and sisters was what he had wanted to do in the long run, and all along, Alexander Supertamp kept his thoughts to himself, wondering whether or not it was the right thing to do. He once even had the urge to call back home, however decided against it because he felt that it would bring all the pain back, and all the pain and frustration of being conformed to a single household and being told what to do all the time was what he wanted to get rid of. So we see that in this story too, language, identity and community play a great role. The young man found his own way of communicating with other people and finally came to terms with the fact that in life the only language one could speak was the language of love. He created an identity for himself; something that everyone he met along the way also remember; and something that people who read about today also keep in mind. He has taught people how to live without asking for or wanting much; he has taught people how to enjoy the little things in life and devour the moments of happiness and sadness as and when they arrive. He came across a number of different groups of people over the course of his trip; however the thing that he found prevailing in all of them was the fact that they all led a simple life and believed in the simple emotions of life. They were all accustomed to living with nature and adapting themselves as pure and simple human beings, god’s gifts. Supertramp connected with all these people as he too shared the same views on life and wanted to live simply, within the lap of nature. This is how he molded his way into people’s hearts and thus into their personal communities. Entry 5: This entry is mainly based on texts that surround the topic of multilingualism within society. A book by John Edwards called ‘Multilingualism’ takes care of all the aspects of bilingualism and multilingualism right from the psychological and social impacts that the two have on a child’s mind. This book is also an amalgamation of the relationships between minorities that form part of their own communities and struggle to preserve their identities in falling nations with the help of their language and cultural background and history. Written below is a personal view on the use of multilingual, bilingual and diglossia ways of speaking and expressing thoughts. Multilingualism is one form of language contact. Multilingualism was more common in the past than is usually supposed in early times, when most people were members of small language communities, it was necessary to know two or more languages for trade or any other dealings outside one's own town or village. Multilingualism is seen as a communicative practice used in verbal interaction under special circumstance. It is characterized by different languages used by the different discourse of participant. Monolingual people: There has been much research and studies into Language learning and teaching. Most scholars believe that learning from a young age is the best; it is when a child is capable of understanding more than one language at full potential.  In England most of the Foreign originates speak 2 or more languages, primarily their native tongue and English to follow, purely because English being such a widely spoken language and seen as an importance to have, as well as these individuals studying/living in England. English is a worldwide language and is used to communicate everywhere Bilingual people: Bilingual interaction can even take place without the speakers switching. In certain areas, it is not uncommon for speakers each to use a different language within the same conversation. Diglossia: Diglossia is described as a kind of bilingualism in a society in which one of the languages or two dialects are used by a single language community. In addition to community’s every day the vernacular language has two different varieties. High (H) and Low (L) variety were used for prestige and is highly codified. For instance, as literature, formal education, and other specific setting, but not used for ordinary conversation. Entry 6: ‘Shantaram’a book by convict turned author Gregory David Roberts portrays a wonderful example of the similarities between language, community and identity. This book is based on the life of the author itself, an escapee from Australia, and how he makes it within the Indian community in the city of (then called) Bombay. The book begins with a segment from a trip in the village that Shantaram takes with Prabhaker, his poor Indian friend. It gives a true picture of how the foreigner tried his best to fit within a community that he was not even aware of, existed. Shantaram goes through a lot of ups and downs, trying to adjust to the habit of the Indian villagers, as well as faces a tad bit of discomfort as the others try to adjust and compromise due to his presence within their environment. Later on, when he moves to the city of Bombay, he takes up a small space within the same slum that Prabhaker lives in, and begins residing there and carrying out his daily activities. He adjusts to the lives of the others around him, learns the Marathi language so that he can communicate with ease with the others, and also tries to fit in and find himself a place within that community of poor people in that slum. After all, Shantaram feels that he himself has to carve an identity for himself, because back in his home country, he was sought after as a convict and a heroin addict. He tries to change these notions about his identity by trying to fit into a different community where no one knows anything about his past; and in this way, he tries to recreate his character as per the Indian norms, so that he can fit in within the new community without having to answer any questions about his history. It is a very touching story of how a foreigner can also be accepted with ease within any community around the world. It teaches one about how it might seem difficult at first, to give up your own individual identity and then try and fit into a place that you are not even aware of, but then later on, as people try to get to know and understand you, it becomes easier, as they see that deep down you share the same morals and values as they do. An instance in this book would be when Shantaram tries to set up a mini clinic with all the expertise that he has in order to help the people within the slum to deal with their diseases and provides cures for them. During that period, people truly understood that he had good intentions and finally accepted him not as a foreigner but as someone part of their own community. This is how the three terms came together within the pages of this story. Entry 7: The Painted Veil written by W. Somerset Maugham is also a book about trying to fit in within a different community. In this book, a woman gets married to a man only for his money and not because she loves him. He is a doctor, and soon has to move to Shanghai to live and cure patients there. Meanwhile, as she is now his wife, she is expected to leave with him. However once there, she has a very hard time fitting in because of the unhealthy and minimal conditions in which they have to survive together. Trying to figure out where language, community and identity fit into this book, can be a little tough, however, it is all there, very stark, in the reader’s face as he travels on the journey of the woman. One can see easily, that Kitty (the wife) tries to adapt to the harsh conditions even though she was made for living life luxuriously. She comes to terms with the fact that as a human being she must not be selfish, and even though her affairs extend out beyond her marriage, she learns to give them up and ultimately only support her husband. Soon enough, she finds herself compromising to the environment around herself as she begins to learn the local language and starts conversing with the local women. She also starts travelling and venturing out on her own a little, and finds out that it might not be all that bad before they move back to their home town again. After having gone through such a rough life experience, Kitty realizes that she has become mature from the shallow person that she used to be. She is no longer someone who cares only about herself; in fact, she begins to care for other people, and tries to even make her marriage work. At first, she feels lost though, in a new city, with a new man, however as the story progresses, one can see her carving her own identity within a different and alien community altogether. This is how she overcomes the barriers that she faces; by trying to be strong and mature about whatever hurdles come her way in life, and this is the one thing that I found most interesting about her, because this problem that she faces is not something very unique; in fact it happens to a lot of women in different situations all around the world. Thus, the way she countered it and adapted to the lifestyle around her, by becoming a part of the language and community, she emerges victorious. Entry 8: For my eighth entry, I would like to cite examples from research done on the politics of the world. From here I can compute, that in a number of situations around the world, there have been many people that have been deported from their own homelands because of mishaps. Many people have also taken as refugees in other countries and wish to see and touch their own soil before they die, but cannot. There have been a number of books and movies based on the same as well. For example, the incident that took place when Taslima Nasreen was sent away from Bangladesh as her citizenship had been revoked. She then took shelter in countries like Sweden and even India. Within this situation, one can gauge on the fact that she had to leave behind her culture, languages as well as community, but what she took everywhere with her, despite all the hurdles that she faced, was her identity. She has been known all across the world for her excellent literary works, and she has always been able to carry her image as an author wherever she went around the world. Today, it is this will power and strength within her that helped her to establish herself within society and not break down because of a loss of identity. Sure, after being shunned form a community, one usually faces a lot of criticism and loss of face, however, she held her own and tried to regain the trust and love from her home nation and people in her own way. Entry 9: Reflection and Research: Language, community and identity was a topic that I chose as part of my reflection and research journal because this is something that is prevailing in society since a very long time. Ever since the time man first walked the earth, these three terms have been lingering in the atmosphere, both together and separately. It was easy to work within this topic because one can fit the three as part of any book or play, and so it was easy locating some interesting books, and giving them a read as to find out how the three terms bring people together, and even separate them. Finding a voice within society can be very tough for an individual, and thus it is language, a unique identity as well as being part of a community that helps him prosper and grow in the eyes of himself as well as other people around him. Entry 10: Keeping a reflection and research journal might seem very difficult at first, however it gets easier as one progresses. In the beginning, it was a very harrowing experience for me, as it does get a little confusing because choosing a topic and then working within it can prove to be a little scary, but the best part about keeping this journal is that it makes everything very systematic and clean. It helps a person to organize their thoughts with regard to a particular subject and to give expression to all the research that has been done in accordance with that particular topic. The main thing that I learnt with the help of this topic was that sometimes in life one might find it very difficult to adapt to different surroundings, but how the different types of environments are at the end of the day, indeed very similar to one another, because their main key objectives are all the same. After reading a lot of the texts as mentioned in the earlier entries, my concept of a language related to an identity as well as a community has undergone a few changes because now I understand with proper sense what it means to a person to have all these three attributes in their life. With the help of examples from stories both real and fictional, I came to terms with, and understood that compromising with situations and giving in sometimes is the best way to try and fit in, however at the same time it is very important to retain a personal concept of everything and have an opinion as well. I might take up languages further because it is something that binds different cultures and communities together. Learning another language gives one an insight into something completely different, and only after we understand what other people also think, we can try and consolidate our position in society. REFERENCE: Chomsky, N. (1957). Syntactic Structures. The Hague: Mouton. Bucholtz, M. (1999). ‘Why Be Normal’. [Online] Web. Fishman, J. (1967) "Bilingualism with and without diglossia; diglossia with and without bilingualism". Journal of Social Issues 32 (2): 29–38.  McGinn, K. (2006) Identity, Interpretation and Influence. HBS Working Paper. [Online] Web. Prostak, R. (2008) Community, Language and Ethical Dimension of Cultural Identity [Online] Web. Taylor, Charles. (1991) Philosphical Arguments. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Read More