The Relationship Between Language and Culture and Effective Communication

It is human nature for people to be symbol makers, users and abusers. The symbols created are words. These words can be complex, powerful and become vital to a person’s attitude or understanding of observed behavior, cultural thoughts and personal survival. Because of the incredible effect words have people are influenced to select or avoid certain words to effectively use persuasive and interpersonal communication. This essay will discuss the relationship between language and culture, while drawing the idea “language shapes thought” and behavior. The essay will also examine the effect communication has on the overall effect on one’s ability to persuade others using persuasion and interpersonal communication.

Why do communication theorists go to such great lengths to study the nature of communication? Communication happens through a series of comments and actions called interactions. It is within those interactions where the dynamics of the communication process can be found. Because, language is the only means of articulating thought people use it to express their feelings, to create and diminish interpersonal relationships and to divulge information. We create and share that information to reach a mutual understanding, about ourselves and others. What a person says or does, or is seen doing, influences the opinions, thoughts and the perception others will have about that them, either positively or negatively. My thoughts or experiences define my reality.

It is natural for people of culture to create a symbol system, a language, to share views, thoughts and perceptions of the physical and social world, reality. However, those same thoughts and perceptions are shaped by the language, creating linguistic relativity. Vital to survival, linguistic relativity is the opinion and understanding shaped by language and the distinctive outlook for each civilization. This may be a reason for the long list of extinct languages created over time. Cronen, Pearce and Harris called it “collectively creating and managing social reality.” In addition to coordinating human activities, cultures create language with meticulous idioms to express the traditions, values and culture based knowledge, also imperative to the essence of any society.

A scholar, Darnell also believed in the dynamics of interaction, he encouraged other researchers to study all of the ways people “affect each other and the interactions of those systems of influence.” (Heath & Bryant, 2000, p. 82) All participants have equal influence on the events, sequence, and outcome of each communication event or act. Similar to the process of interpersonal communication, people either influence others or others are being influenced by people, through actions and statements. Mutual understanding, also known as co-orientation, can create the feelings of satisfaction, ease, pleasure within an interpersonal relationship. “Mutual influence is the defining characteristic of interpersonal communication.” (Heath & Bryant, 2000, p. 217) Humans, just like animals, have a desire to understand and/or to be understood, which can only be done by experiencing a person’s behaviors, through interaction. For example, analyze the process of dating and disclosure. If I spend a significant amount of time with Larry and I feel there has been an equal exchange of feelings, emotions and private thoughts then the more likely I am to increase physical closeness or intimacy with Larry. Then, I should expect that interpersonal relationship to grow abundantly and flourish. We might even have children together. However, if the same amount of time is spend at work, under the employment of a clueless, judgmental, snob of a boss then her negative influence can lead to me taking on her negative actions (spreading negativity like a disease) or to look for a new job, dissolving the interpersonal relationship.

The idea, language and thought are inseparable is similar to the idea that communication and persuasion are almost identical. Relationships are crafted through language, persuasion and interpersonal communication during interactions. The theory of the origin of communication dates back as far 500 B.C. Ancient Greeks made the tradition of rhetoric communication as a means of identifying with others. Aristotle believed the art of rhetoric is in creating and using persuasive arguments; using strategies of rhetoric to persuade audiences. He said impactful speakers were of sound moral character, creditable reputations who concentrated on the most effective techniques of engaging others, vocal and physical delivery.

Interaction is an action and the response to that action; the observation of communication behavioral patterns. Through interactions, people socially exchange knowledge and attitudes, but it is social influence that embodies the relationship between attitude and behavior, through persuasion. To effectively persuade others, use vocabulary that relates to the audience’s perception, recognize the relationship between words, thoughts and experiences and more importantly remembering self interest drives behavior. The more involved a person is the more information they will seek, process and utilize in various persuasive messages.

The most successful communicators remain sensitive to how they present themselves when around others and are mindful of the appropriate behavior for each interaction, this is called self-monitoring. It is important to remember, because no segment of communication is free from previous influences, it is possible to be too dominating for healthy communication in business and personal relationships. If a mistake is made, like a word was spoken with a tone or the receiver misunderstands figurative speech, then it is best for the speaker to correct themselves immediately. Unfortunately, many do not have cognitive complexity, the ability to craft multiple interpretations of what others say and do, and may not mention that they were offended.

Credibility, which influences the amount of disclosure exchanged in a relationship, can effect communication in various contexts. For instance, take a look at the earlier example of Larry and the snobby boss. If the stories Larry told me were consistent, if he spoke with conviction and often challenged my frame of thinking then I would consider him a credible source. In interpersonal communication the content, structure, style of various messages, integrity and if the person is well liked are factors of persuasion. However, if my boss is inconsistent in her messages and has been heard making de-biasing statements then she will not be considered credible. During interaction, people share their perspectives of the world; it is impossible to not share a perspective during communication.

Language and meaning are incapable of being separated, so does that indicate we mean everything we say? C.R. Berger recognized one of the challenges of communication is to understand that people are not mindful of everything they say. However, language still impacts interpersonal communication and one’s ability to be persuasive. If my boss repeatedly says, “You always hold me to my words” even though she may not be conscious of what she is saying I may perceive that she may not be a credible source of information and I will not be easily persuaded to believe her later. Her language impacted our interpersonal relationship in a negative light; my perception of her is negative which will affect the growth of our interpersonal relationship.

Meaning is co-created through interaction, it is what people think about think it is and it effects perceptions and actions. Those perceptions are then shaped by language which is the only means of articulating thought; meaning is a product of that thought. Language impacts communication style, pattern, dialect and culture. Each cultural approach to the world effects the individual interpretation of the world therefore effecting perceptions and actions. Meaning, like words, is a shared conventionalized code within a society. It is a product of the cultural impact on perceptions and actions and is something to be exchanged during interaction, a product of the interaction. The entire communication process is to share words, to create meaning through interaction and when our personal behavior affects others then communication is seen.

Let us go over the main points of the essay by using another example of my interpersonal relationship with Larry. If Larry and I were on the phone during one of our nightly conversations then we would have been using language to articulate our thoughts. While telling a childhood story he said Vienna (VI’-nna) sausages and put an emphasis on the first two letters. I can assume from his perceptive he thought that to be the correct pronunciation. When I correct him that is a response; we are interacting. My goal should be to nicely correct Larry therefore I use language that would be received as an inquiry. The nature of inquiry begins with curiosity; however it is the desire for accurate and insightful information that inspires our actions to look for the appropriation pronunciation on the internet. When Larry found out I was correct, they are called Vienna (v-IEE’-nna) sausages then we have come to a mutual understanding. Each moment of the interaction reflects a shared sense of history in our relationship.

Communication happens through a series of comments and actions, we refer to as interactions. The exact definition of interaction is an action and the response to that action; the act of observing behavioral communication patterns. Every person involved has an opportunity to influence the events, sequences and outcome of each interaction. Meaning, which is co-created through interaction, is what people think about think it is and an effect on individual perceptions and actions. During interactions, relationships are crafted through language.

The people of a culture will naturally create a symbol system to share views, thoughts and perceptions of the reality of the world around them. Humans have an innate desire to be understood, this can only be done through interaction, by experiencing another person. Although, people are not always mindful of everything they are still capable of successful interpersonal relationships and of being considered a credible source. Credibility is important to have because of the amount of the weight disclosure has on the communication exchanged in a relationship. Even as early as 500 B.C., Aristotle spoke about the art of rhetoric in creating and using persuasive arguments; the strategies of rhetoric. If impactful speakers were of sound moral character, with creditable reputations, then communication tools such as self-monitoring are merely the reiteration of an old idea.