Same language, different culture

One symptom of culture is language. Language may be part of the culture, might be an instrument of communication in that language, and many cultures have a special language associated with them. As early forms of globalisation took on, and in some cases, in the forms of invasions and colonisations, certain languages surpassed culture and country divides and now encompass many cultures. The language that quickly comes to mind is English of course, but other examples include Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Russian, to name a few. When this happens, as it so often does, the colonisers language becomes the necessary form of communication for any one in the society who wants to advance socially and to participate in the social sphere. This naturally puts the local population at a disadvantage, because most people speak much easier from their first language (also known as their "heart language").

Which language you choose to use and the way you use it denotes status, dictates hierarchy, reveals your origin, level of education, and so on. While it's true that this is most easily seen when talking about cultures where multiple languages exist, I want to bring attention to those places where everyone is seemingly talking in the same language, but are truly using it in different ways. This is visible in the lexicon they use, the connotation associated with words used and the history behind them.

Lets take English for example. It can be a very immersive experience when paying attention to the way people speak it. But it's not just that: its also about what people are saying, how they are saying it and all the non verbal communication that goes with it. Many of the people have a lot of pride in the way they speak, as it is a mark of where they come from, and part of their identity. '

I have always been faced with understanding that even though I speak English, I do not speak other people's English. Even though I understand the words, I was often blind to the connotation and hidden meanings of words. And that is just in reference to English.

-Johanna