5.Lang+&+Culture-Carlos+&+Sintia

Language and Culture ** By Sintia H. & Carlos C.
 * Chapter 5

**Introduction**

Cultural diversity is a fact of life in today’s world. It is important for one to gain knowledge and to pay attention to the issues involved in working with culturally diverse populations. Our knowledge of others will be limited if we consider culture without language, because we need to understand the interconnections among both. It is through language that the emotions of family life are expressed. Here, in the United States, immigrant children are facing the critical task of reconciling the home culture with the dominant culture. Everyone comes to the United States because with expectations of achieving the American dream. While pursuing the American dream we begin to experience the differences. At times, we become unaware of the difficulties in dealing with students, parents, or clients who are from a different cultural background from our own. We may have limited cultural experiences outside our communities, which can alter our ideas or have our ideas altered, by those with whom we are in contact. In cross-cultural relationships, it is important to respect the cultures and languages of others. The American melting pot brings many cultures together but at the same time, creates separations. It is during this time that we should find the similarities, understand the differences and embrace each others' culture. Language is not only an instrumental tool for communication, but also the carrier of cultural values and attitudes. In knowing about language and culture, one can prevent misunderstandings of others from different genders, races, ages, religions, social classes, and educational levels. As the American society continues to incorporate new cultures into its identity, it is up to our institutions, especially schools, to create an understanding of culture. In understanding new cultures, we will understand the differences and similarities in ourselves. There are many opportunities to embrace the differences in cultures. Whether it be from a conflict, language instruction, class assignment or every day experience, we can acquire an understanding of others. Culture/language needs to be looked at as another part of the culture's success instead of a handicap.


 * Main Points**

1.Our growing nation has been formed with people of great cultural variety. But at the same time there is a gap in the amount of skilled professionals able to speak two languages easily and naturally. Our culturally and linguistically diverse population is growing at a rapid rate and contrary to common belief; it makes sense to use students’ native language to reinforce their acquisition of English with instruction in their primary language. (SH)

2. In order to understand a language you need to have some understanding of the culture and vice-versa. Hence, language and culture are co-relational to one another. Through this understanding, a person will become knowledgeable of the target culture and notice the similarities and differences between his/her own culture. (CC)

3. We become accepting of multicultural people from learning about cultures other than our own. With knowledge, we become accustomed because we are exposed and develop a better acceptance of the interaction within each other’s socio/cultural rules. In this manner we do not allow for a segregation of the target culture and are able to avoid any inappropriate responses for the target culture that can cause a negative reaction. (CC)

4. By welcoming and creating cultural activities, on a deeper level beyond surface cultural aspects, such as food festivals, we become more knowledgeable and accepting. In learning about other cultural values and norms, we realize that we have similar and different values. (CC)

5. When it comes to establishing one’s own identity some may assume that this task is done easily. On the contrary, identity formation never finishes. It continues developing every day, influenced by one’s language and cultural background within the societal context. Identities change sometimes by forces in the environment which surround us, including many facets of life, such as one’s culture, family, language, religion, etc. (SH)

6. Within specific cultures, there are sub-cultures each with unique values, customs and norms. Within the Latino population, for example, South American mountain people have different diets, traditions, and music from the Mexicans from the coast. Not only are they from different cultures, but from different climates. Societies are generalized and one needs to recognize that all regions do not have the same exact ideologies. It is dangerous to make assumptions about people by lumping them into a particular group. (CC)

7. Garifuna language is spoken in Honduras, Belize and Guatemala. It has been under threat of destruction, such that Garifunas are trying hard to maintain their language. They have created a language policy statement proclaiming that they belong to a lone ethnic community named Garifuna Nation and that through their language they are able to transmit their culture. One of their main goals is to facilitate and encourage the development and implementation of programs and projects with a view to ensuring the preservation, promotion, development and wider utilization of the Garifuna language. (SH)

8. When there are differences of opinion, it is imperative to know the respective sides of the cultural arguments. Each culture may have misconceptions than must be confronted by both parties. Through this interaction we dispel our feelings, misjudgments, biases, and stereotypes. We can then embrace the notion that we hold certain values to be different and similar to our upbringing. (CC)

9. Lots of problems can occur when registering ELL students for school. Sometimes administrators, school staff, and database managers do not understand variations in the naming system of other cultures, which use different naming conventions and forms of address. Anglo-American names follow this format; first name, middle name, and last name, as in John Anthony Green, whereas the name Pedro Jose Garcia Perez does not that format. In that case, the person registering the student will need to decide how to fit that name in the field provided. In addition, they should be careful to distinguish if two students with the same name are not getting the same ID number, and if a student moves he/she should not be getting a different ID number. (SH)


 * Annotations and Links**

1. Ackerman B. (1999). A Multicultural Approach to Authentic Learning Using Artifacts. Electronic Magazine of Multicultural Education [online]. Retrieved on September 21, 2008 from http://www.eastern.edu/publications/emme/1999fall/ackerman.html This article discusses Authentic Learning (the use of primary sources and artifacts from real time periods) and its use in making learning fun for students. The article gives 3 examples for 3 subject areas: 1) Bag of Artifacts-Science 2) I am from...- Language Arts 3) Design a Postage Stamp- Social Studies. These examples promote learning of other cultures, for the student to the target culture or the student’s culture to the teacher/audience. (CC)

2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2004). Cultural Competence. ASHA Supplement 25. Retrieved September 24, 2008 from: http://www.asha.org/NR/rdonlyres/06C10F05-FFE5-4E82-B348- D63C6C2EAC6C/0/multicultural_article.pdf

3. Golafshani, N. (2002). Identity formation through second language learning: A journey through a narrative. Electronic Magazine of Multicultural Education [online], 4 (1), 34 paragraphs Retrieved September 24, 2008 from: http://www.eastern.edu/publications/emme/2002spring/golafshani.html The article refers to how one’s identity is never completely formed. An individual's identity is more likely influenced by language and by the many changes that have transpired one's life. When it comes to affirming who we are, language is a perfect means of expression to establish that, but sometimes that chance is taken away from us by society who often works hard to strip away a person’s native language especially when one is a member of the dominant or advantaged social group. (SH)

4. Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. "Garifuna". Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Retrieved September 24, 2008 from: http://www.garifuna.com/garifuna-language.html The author is concerned that the Garifuna language is in danger of extinction even though they still have a large amount of people that are still speak it. Garifuna speakers created language policy statements with the mission of defining the Garifuna nation and maintaining the language. They are aware of the connection that exists between language and culture and to that effect the Garifuna language can serve as the main means of expression for maintaining and spreading their culture. (SH)

5. Halsall, P. What is culture? (1995): Brooklyn College: New York Core 9: Studies in Latin American, African and Asian Societies course Retrieved on September 21, 2008 from http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/culture.html This article explains the meanings of culture, from a high society or mainstream viewpoint to others less mainstream. In order to understand culture one needs to understand values, laws, rules, social categories, tacit models, assumptions and fundamentals. New York City culture is used to give an example of a New Yorkers way of being in their society. Knowing what is not said is as important as what is not said. Learning about another culture can come from interaction with the people and by learning about the target culture's government, economic life, social structure, religion, literature, and art. (CC)

6. Lee W., Derek Bok Center Managing Hot Moments in the Classroom (2000) Retrieved on September 21, 2008 from http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/html/icb.topic58474/hotmoments.html Difficult moments are when a class argument explodes. When they do, one needs to learn how to handle the issues involved. Strategies are suggested to help teachers manage the "hot moments" and find teaching opportunities within the issues involved. How we think about the issue and then helping the students to navigate for the teacher as well as the students is discussed. (CC)

7. Marcus, N., Adger, C. T., & Arteagoitia, I. (2007). Registering students from language backgrounds other than English (Issues & Answers Report, REL 2007–No. 025). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Appalachia. Retrieved September 24, 2008 from: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/appalachia/pdf/REL_2007025.pdf The authors are concerned with how ELL students are understood and treated in schools. In terms of their names, sometimes school staffs, data base managers and administrators do not give a second thought that a student’s name may have different customary ways attached to it. Naming conventions of people from other cultures may differ from those used here in the US. A name may have all different types of meaning depending on the cultural background of the student They may have 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th names instead of the typical 1st, 2nd and 3rd names. Some students may even have the same names, so for that reason, the school personnel should be careful to assure that they are not assigned the same identification number. (SH)

8. Mahendra, N., Ribera, J., Sevcik, R., Adler, R., Cheng, Li- Rong L., Davis McFarland, E., Deal-Williams, V. R., Garrett, D., Riquelme, L. F., Salisbury, T.,Schneider, W., Villanueva, A.. (ND) Why is yogurt good for you? Because it has live cultures. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Retrieved on September 23, 2008 from: http://www.asha.org/NR/rdonlyres/06C10F05-FFE5-4E82-B348-D63C6C2EAC6C/0/multicultural_article.pdf Clinicians, researchers, speech pathologist, audiologists and speech-language and hearing scientists need to become more open in learning about different cultures. By applying three stages of awareness, application and advocacy, these individuals can come to an understanding of not only the target group’s culture, but also their own cultural identity. Because of the increasing diversity of the American population, it is imperative for clinicians to learn about themselves and the other groups so that we all recognize, understand and accept each other. (CC)

9. Moxley, A., Mahendra, N., & Vega-Barachowitz, C. (2004, April 13). Cultural competence in health care. ASHA Leader, 6-7, 20-22. Retrieved September 24, 2008 from: http://www.asha.org/NR/rdonlyres/06C10F05-FFE5-4E82-B348- D63C6C2EAC6C/0/multicultural_article.pdf The writers focus on what practitioners need to know and understand about cultural diversity. To function effectively as a counselor, one needs to remain aware of client’s cultural attributes and to realize how cultural values operate in the counseling process. It also refers of the importance of recognizing and respecting diversity in our society by acquiring the knowledge, skills and personal awareness, essential to working effectively with a wide variety of client groups. (SH)

10. Peterson, E. and Coltrane, B. (2003, December). Culture in Second language teaching (EDO-FL-03-09) Center for Applied Linguistics Retrieved on September 23, 2008 from: http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/0309peterson.html This article discusses the importance about learning culture while learning language. Culture affects the language because it can display to students the appropriate way to address different individuals within the cultural language society. The article gives suggestions of various areas to investigate, in target language, such as: Proverbs, Role Play, Culture Capsules, Students as Cultural Resources, Ethnographic Studies, Literature, and Film. Through these areas of cultural investigation, students will learn how to understand the target language, compare the differences between the target and the native language, and learn to socially interact in the society's target language. (CC)

10. Reyna, L. (ND). Lydia’s Life Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation Retrieved on September 21, 2008 from http://library.thinkquest.org/C008371/Lydia%20Reyna.htm This article allows you to understand the American dream and how new immigrants become part of this country's diversity in order to be successful. Another point is how the Mexican culture is being integrated in Florida. The author shows how Mexicans are able to contribute and maintain their culture in the United States by interviewing a shop keeper about her background, opinions, and past time periods. (CC)

11. Saville-Troike (1978) Culture in the classroom Washington DC: National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education, 1978 Retrieved on September 21, 2008 from http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/classics/culture/index.htm (CC)

12. Trumbull, et al. (2000) Bridging Cultures In Our Schools: New Approaches that work. San Francisco: WestEd. Publishing Retrieved on September 21, 2008 from http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/bridging/welcome.shtml (CC)