Aspects of Language
How to Learn a Language and a Culture Language in Society -(Aspects of Language)
Cultural
Culture is the context of the social encounters between human beings, which involve language. Each cultural group has a mother tongue and may have one or more additional languages. The culture of a community is integrally related to the language they speak. However, many different peoples may speak the same or very similar language, but still differ somewhat culturally.
Spanish, Swahili and French are examples of multi-national, multi-ethnic languages. Same as Tamils from various locality differ according to their cultural background. Thus the people's identity differ from others who may speak the same language, due to different sets of experiences and the resulting different sets of expectations exist even in the same language "community." Language is a medium of interaction in social relationships.
Communication events involve exchange of cultural information.
Social
Language is a social medium, and thus a social skill. Language is a major component in social events, communication events, interaction with other people. Learning language as a social skill heightens memory and competency. Languages are used by social groups (families, clans, tribes, societies) to manage their relationships and cultural roles, obligations and interrelationships.
Cognitive
Language is not information, but the format for processing information -- not explanation, but mastery. This enables the learner to approach natural, spontaneous production, based on thought and intent. The real cognitive aspect of language is in our use of the language to think. The language as they speak it leads us to think as they think.
Conscious awareness of the models and structures may help the learner master the structures rather than be limited by them. But the models must be mastered, in order for thought to flow into communication. This is done through practice and use.
This cognitive culture, woven into the fabric of the language, is called world view.
Physical
Language is a motor skill. A new language will feel funny, and difficult to produce. The tongue, lips, throat and other speech apparatus have to learn new positions and sequences of positions.
This takes preparation, practice, mastery and training.
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