- This is an additional Reading Text for the Animation degree programme at QUST/Bradford
- It is uncontroversial to say that reading is probably the best way to extend your vocabulary and the more you read, the greater your vocabulary will be
- The words from the Academic Word List (AWL) are in bold
Language and culture are connected. However, it is not easy to define exactly how they are connected. English, for example, developed within the culture of people living in England and is therefore clearly connected to English culture, but it is not the only language in Britain. In Wales, for example, people speak Welsh as well as English and Welsh is considered to be an important aspect of Welsh cultural heritage. English is also closely connected to the culture of the USA which is probably more influential globally than British English nowadays. English was the language of the British Empire and it therefore has a special status in many former colonies. Understandably, people’s attitudes towards English language and British culture are not always positive but the language is often used for practical reasons. In particular, it is useful as an official language where to select one of many possible local languages would be culturally and politically sensitive (e.g. in India). English is also, of course, regarded as an important language for business, science, education, international politics, aviation and the internet, and is therefore connected to the various cultures and sub-cultures of those fields.
English is also connected with China. For example, there aren’t many countries in the world where the citizens give themselves an ‘English name’. You are probably aware of words that do not have direct equivalents in different languages (e.g. try explaining the difference between 青 and 绿 in English, it isn’t easy) and think about the difficulty in learning idioms or understanding jokes that are based on cultural meanings. The English word tea, meaning a leaf and its derived drink that is very important in both Chinese and British cultures, has its origins in Chinese languages. Indeed, English has borrowed many words from Chinese as well as words from numerous other languages.
Finally, it should be noted that language and culture are not fixed. Both change over time. Many people have tried to fix languages through prescribing how the language should be used. Indeed, a British politician made the news headlines recently for stating that certain English expressions or grammar were not acceptable in his office. However, such actions do not stop the language from changing. Similarly, some people try to fix culture through tradition or religious dogma, but even these phenomena change over time. Consider the Chinese traditions of the Spring Festival, for example. Some probably date back to ancient days, like the union dinner with family and setting off firecrackers, but others are clearly not that old and represent a change, such as watching the gala performance on TV and subsequently offering a critique of it online. As the culture changes, so the language used to describe the culture changes.