as/but

[*^^*]

"It is not so much the language as the cultural background that makes the book difficult to understand."

Can I change "as" to "but"?

But on the second thought, I feel if I did, the meaning of the sentence maybe will be changed. Although I don't know how.

 

[bhaisahab]

"It is not so much the language as the cultural background that makes the book difficult to understand."

Can I change "as" to "but"?

But on the second thought, I feel if I did, the meaning of the sentence maybe will be changed. Although I don't know how.

Leave it with "as".

 

[Tdol]

It is better with as. If you changed it to but, you would be reducing the language element further IMO, but it doesn't read well.