learning a second language means learning a new culture

[chill out]

hi there,
It has been said that learning a second language is a ' master key ' for learning a second culture. Based on your experience of learning English, What do you think? Is it true that learning a second language means learning a new culture? If yes, what are those experiences you went through? Do you have any specific experience that proves the given idea?

Waiting to read your comments ..

thanks ...

[arunp]

Originally Posted by chill out

hi there,
It has been said that learning a second language is a ' master key ' for learning a second culture. Based on your experience of learning English, What do you think? Is it true that learning a second language means learning a new culture? If yes, what are those experiences you went through? Do you have any specific experience that proves the given idea?

Waiting to read your comments ..

thanks ...

English has been, for quite sometime, a global language and hence it does not limit itself to any culture. But yes, if you study literature you will tend to get closer to the native culture.

[Calaen]

This does not have to be so when one only studies the language, because some languages are spoken in so many areas that you cannot choose just one country's culture. For me, language and culture are two completely different things, because you will be understood if you speak the language, and people won't ask you to repeat what you're saying if you know absolutely nothing about cultures. So getting to know the country's style of living, etcetra, is not essential.

Sometimes, however, knowledge of a culture comes with the study of a language. It really depends on what aspect of the language you're interested in. If I just want to communicate I'm fine without knowledge of the culture, but if I, for example, want to study the history of a language, it's important to know why, when and how a language changed to completely understand it. That's when you need to know stuff about the culture.

[Tdol]

It also depends how m uch you study the languge; if you learn survival language, you won't pick up that much of the culture.

[arunp]

Originally Posted by Tdol

It also depends how m uch you study the languge; if you learn survival language, you won't pick up that much of the culture.

Yes I agree with Tdol and that is what I meant in my previous post. For example, in India study of English is pursued to enhance one's prospects in career and business. This helps because English is a global language of sorts.Today in India it is learnt only to the extent it is functional.

[Veron1]

learning a second language means learning a new culture

Sure!!!!!

I.A

[chill out]

well,
for me I think that is learning a second language implies some degree of learning a second culture. Now, if someone, who has no idea about English, went to a country where English is a main language, he will not be able to live in that country and definitely will never pass the culture shock easily.But, if he has some knowledge about language then he will be stong enough to get over culture shock and aquire a new culture, so simply language means culture.


thanks for your participation.

regards,
chill out