Interellation Between Language and Social Cultural Environment [PDF]

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INTERELLATION BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT (PAPER)



Lecturer: DR. Nur Syamsiah, M. Pd. Composed by: Group 3 Class 5H Citra Puteri Utami (1911040294) Lia Noviana (1911040381) Muhammad Rizki Amarta (1911040412)



ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TARBIYAH AND TEACHER TRAINING FACULTY RADEN INTAN STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF LAMPUNG 2022/1443



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PREFACE The author would like to amplify their exceptional appreciation to Allah because of His mercy and grace to all of us so that this paper can be compiled well. This paper is composed as the project paper of the Eco-linguistics course which is taught by DR. Nur Syamsiah, M. Pd.



The author realized that this paper is still flawed, so the author trusts the feedback from the reader can offer assistance to the creator in making the best one. Finally, this paper can offer assistance to the reader to pick up more information almost the materials.



Bandar Lampung, March 2021



Author (Group 3)



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TABLE OF CONTENTS



PREFACE ......................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 2 A.



Background ........................................................................................................................ 2



CHAPTER II DISCUSSIONS ........................................................................................ 5 A.



Interrelation between Language and Social Cultural Environment ....................................... 5



B.



Examples of Interrelation between Language and Social Cultural Environment................. 10



CHAPTER III CONCLUSION .................................................................................... 13 REFERENCES



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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION



A. Background As we know language is never separated from our daily life. Language is closely related to culture because language is part of culture and language plays an important role in culture. Some scientists in the social field argue that without language, culture cannot be created. Language cannot be separated from culture and vice versa. If likened to living organisms, language is flesh and culture is blood. Language is a reflection of culture. If likened to an iceberg in the ocean, then language is the visible part, while the invisible and hidden part under the surface of the water is culture. A language reflects a culture. Moreover, a language is influenced and shaped by culture. Without culture, language will die, without language, culture will have no form. Language is used to maintain and express culture. Moreover, In a study conducted by Wenqiu (2014) it was found that perfect human language skills require humans to use their minds and intelligence to fully control vocalizations. This is a common ground for Aristotle and Chomsky to emphasize the contribution made by the human mind to human language, but Chomsky emphasizes that the syntax of human language is determined by the human mind while Aristotle emphasizes that the scope of the semantics of human language is determined by the human mind. Chomsky views that human language is innate and universal, while Aristotle views that human language is social and diverse 1 Meanwhile According to E.B. Taylor as stated in his book Primitive Culture (1871), Culture is the entirety of human activity, including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and other customs (Nyoman Kutha Ratna, 2005: 5).2 In a study conducted by Jon Reyhner (2017) on Affirming identity: The role of 1



WenQiu (2014) Aristotle‟s Definition of Language.International Journal of English Literature and Culture.Vol. 2(8), pp. 194-202, 2 Ratna, NyomanKutha, 2005, Sastradan Cultural Studies: RepresentasiFiksidanFakta. Yogyakarta: PustakaPelajar.



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language and culture in American Indian education, it was found that Hollywood films, commercial television, violent video games, and Internet pornography increase attacks on traditional culture today. In addition to the sex and violence that dominates US television, film, and gaming, the modern media also uses sophisticated efforts to sell soft drinks (essentially flavored sugar water), alcohol, and other unhealthy items to indigenous peoples and others suffering from epidemics, alcoholism and diabetes (American Indian Health, 2013). The culture embedded in Indigenous languages represents a proven child-rearing educational practice that helps Indigenous people survive for generations, developing extended family ties, clans, and communities that provide strong support groups. This knowledge of how humans should interact and support each other is critical, given that the United States has the highest percentage of its citizens in prison than any other country, and American Indians disproportionately contribute to these high incarceration rates (Walmsley, 2011).3 Language is a symbolic representation of a society because language describes the cultural and historical background of the community, as well as their approach to life, ways of sustaining life, and ways of thinking. “People use organized frameworks that they build from life experiences and the accumulated values of life. Having a unique outlook is another way in which people insist on acting like humans rather than rational machines. People see the world differently for many reasons. They may differ in needs, personality, demographic factors, and past experiences, or they may find themselves in different physical settings, time periods, or social environments. Whatever the reason, they tend to act on their perceptions.” (John W. Newstorm and Keith Davis, 1997) In addition, language also has an impact on humans and their 'environment'. The fact that language defines resources such as air, water, land, coal, iron, and oil as unlimited (cf. 2001:194) and that “language creates discontinuity between ourselves” and the rest of creation” (2001:195) . Language also “promotes the ideology of growth or growthism” 3



Jon Reyhner | (2017) Affirming identity: The role of language and culture in American Indian education, Cogent Education, 4:1, 1340081



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(2001: 196)—the growth of everything human at the expense of what we call nature or 'the environment.4 In addition, language also has a social relationship. The three dimensions of social praxis can be easily seen as explained by Bang & Door on the theoretical framework or the basis for understanding and explaining the constitution of the language environment. The three dimensions are determined dialectically. The three logical dimensions are interrelated with historical and dynamic systems of recurrent invariance, patterns and tendencies (Bang & Door, 2000). The ideological dimension is about our individual and collective mental, cognitive, ideological and psychic systems. The sociological dimension is about how we organize our interrelationships to maintain a collectivity of individuals, whether these individuals love each other (e.g. in family and among friends), know each other (e.g. in political systems, such as region, country). The biological dimension is about our biological collectivity and our coexistence with other species (animals, plants, soil, oceans, microorganisms, etc.). 5 In this regard, Haugen (1972) asserts the environment as evidence that: it may direct one's mind first to the referential world provided by the index language. However this is not the environment of the language but its lexicon and grammar. The real environment of a language is the society that uses it as one of its codes. Language exists only in the minds of its users, and only functions in connecting these users to each other, and to nature, their social and natural environment. (Haugen, quoted in Fill and Mühlhaüsler 2001: 57). 6 From explanations based on existing phenomena, we argue that each social and cultural has a close relationship with language. The two cannot be separated from each other. Culture can be formed because of language; language can still exist because of social. If one of them is omitted then the language will disappear. In this discussion, our group will discuss the relationship or relationship between language and the socio-cultural environment and provide examples of causes related to it.



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Alwin F. Fill HerminePenz (2018) The Routledge Handbook of Ecolinguistics. Routledge: Newyork. Pages 4 Nirmalasari, et.al (2019).Falia‘sKe-kaghati-an in Muna Speech Community From the Ecolinguistic Perspective. e-Journal of Linguistics, 13, (2), 233—241. 6 Derni, A (2008).The Ecolinguisticcs Paradigm: An Integrationist Trend in Language Study. The International Journal of Language Society and Culture, 21-30. 5



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CHAPTER II DISCUSSION



A. Interrelation between Language and Social Cultural Environment 1. Language and Culture Language is a means or tool used by humans to express thoughts and ideasfeelings so that the human mind can be influenced by language (Saddhono, 2014). Language as a communication tool in the form of sound symbols produced from human speech and used as a means of communication between community members (Keraf, 2004). In addition, language is a study of the grammatical structure, which contains aspects of sound, words, and sentences. As in a study, language is the embodiment of human mind which is transformed into reason and mind humans (Alisyahbana, 1977). The influence of language on the human mind can be in the form of thinking patterns and speaking style. This can be seen from the mindset of the Javanese people who tend to divides the use of language into several levels, namely ngoko, karma, karma inggil. Meanwhile in Bali, the terms sor (low level) and singgih (high level) are known (Saddhono, 2014). The division of language levels by a certain tribe or ethnicity indicates that language used as the identity of a particular group. Language is not only a means of communication often considered as an identity and identity of a certain tribe, ethnicity, or group (Sumarsono, 2007). Therefore, language is one aspect of human life that cannot be separated from culture. Culture is the result of human reason and overview (Widyosiswoyo, 2004). Whereas Koentjaraningrat (2005) defines culture as the total human mind, human work, and the results of humans that don't come from their instincts, and can only be produced after humans carry out the learning process. This indicates that culture is one of the benchmarks an advanced civilization. Through the existing culture, humans inherit noble values that passed down by their ancestors. Language and culture are two important



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elements that cannot be separated, both are interrelated. Language is one element in culture (Koentjaraningrat, 2005). On the other hand, language is a reflection of the existing culture, the characteristics of the resulting language come from the culture that build it. Such as the Javanese language which is used to transmit the values of local wisdom and culture character education from the fairy tale Sayu Wiwit (Fatimah, Sulistyo, &Saddhono, 2017). Through the interaction of language and culture, many literary works are born that can be a source of informal learning for humans. This literary work is full of noble values. One that can be used as learning material is Nun's novel entitled "In a Mirror" by AfifahAfra. The novel is full of socio-cultural values and character educationreflected in the intrinsic elements in it. Language is a cultural product that cannot be separated (Koentjaraningrat, 2005). Language no different from other living things, because language also experiences birth, small, and then develops into adults and disappears (Abusyairi, 2003). So language isn't static as it often is assumed by most people. Culture is a study that is complex, abstract, and broad (Mulyana&Rakhmat, 2006). Culture is referred to as a comprehensive way of life. Many socio-cultural elements spread out in various social activities. From this explanation, it can be concluded that culture is a system of knowledge that includes a system of ideas and human thoughts andis a complete and perfect mirror of culture (Alisyahbana, 1977). The role of language is very important for culture because language has a dominant role in society cultural development (Mardikantoro, 2013). Agree with Mardikantoro, Masinambouw (2000) states that language occupies a central and important position in life because language has multiple aspects which include biological, psychological, social, and cultural. Therefore, language and culture are two things that cannot be separated because both have a very close relationship and mutually influence each other (Abusyairi, 2013). In language, one should pay attention to the norms that apply in language the cultural system in which the language is spoken. Language and culture in an area or region have various interactions. Both of them interact with each other without being aware of it



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by society. People tend to think that language and culture are two separate and unrelated things. Even though both of them are one factors that can measure or barometer for a civilization that was created and built by humans. Through language and culture, future generations can know the development and civilizations in the past. Thus it can be concluded that language and culture always have a harmonious relationship in every human civilization. 2. Language and socio-cultural Environment The user can utilize linguistic differentiation to specify priorities in his language. In Eskimo, for example, there are different words for different sorts of ‘snow’ because they desire to create linguistic distinctions between different types of snow in their sociocultural milieu. However, in our sociocultural environment, such difference is impossible to achieve7. This is true perception of reality as expressed in the linguistic repertoire of a specific environment's culture and subculture. According to the Sapir-Whorl hypothesis, an individual person (learns or acquires) the language of his immediate culture or subculture, as well as all of the environmental realities or interactions that occur in that context, and this concentration impacts that category system in memory. This theory emphasizes linguistic determinism and relativity. Linguistic relativity asserts that different cultures understand the world differently and that these distinctions are stored in languages. As a result, language and experience partition the world in arbitrary ways. "Some cultures regard all water as the same, while others recognize significant variations between different types of water “such as rain, flood water, and still water.”8. He goes on to say that the difference in perception is reflected in the language since the speakers communicate their opinions based on their personal experience with the world. Their lexical differences develop and are influenced as a result of this. 7



Okafor, G.O. “Language in Society and Culture”. NnonyeluA.U. (ed). Humanities and Natural Development.Enugu: NGB Publishers, 2001. 32-46. 8 Singh, Ishtla “Language and Ethnicity” Language Society and Power: An introduction. Linda &WareingShan. London. Routledge, 1999



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Language and social context have become linked as a result of the influence of social structures on language. This conduct gives rise to numerous multidisciplinary relationships, such as psycholinguistics, which analyzes language as an interpersonal and intrapersonal product of motives that also explains linguistic behavior in relation to various human and psychological mental systems9. Language incorporates a cultural vision, which includes preserving, sustaining, and transmitting collective notions, historical, philosophical, socio-cultural, and ecological values of a society10. Language is a cultural symbol and element that is present in all aspects of human life. Language is a real component of culture in socio-culture, and it may also be used to distinguish one ethnic group from another. Language, as a social reality, is a phenomena that allows a community to communicate and interact in a situational and cultural context. In human life, language plays a critical function. Humans and language are two entities that cannot be separated since humans exist because language serves as a source of self-identity and language exists because humans use it in daily conversation. This demonstrates how the concepts of langue and parole, two essential concepts proposed by Saussure (1995)11, can be used to understand the role of language in numerous facets of human life. Saussure defines language as the sum of 45 linguistic facts and 45 social facts held in the minds of speakers. Speakers' parole is speech created by them. This means that parole can only be deciphered by linguistic analysis. Furthermore, one aspect of a linguistic community's uniqueness can be recognized from the form of language and the behavior of its speakers. The example of language and sociocultural environment :



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Derni, Ammaria. “The Ecolinguistic Paradigm: An Integrationist Trend in Language Study “. The International Journal Of Language Society and Culture (eds) Thao Le and Quynh Le. www.educ.utas.edu.an/users/tle/ JOURNAL, n.d. 21- 30. 10 Hariyono, S. (2020).Falia Expression Protecting Environmental Ecosystem in Barangka District. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 7(1), 79-98. 11 Derni, A. (2008). The ecolinguistic paradigm: An integrationist trend in language study. The International Journal of Language Society and Culture, 24, 21-30.



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1) In a socio-cultural environment, when there are speakers who are doctors, they will usually use medical terms when they talk about professions in their social environment, namely hospitals. 2) I will take an example from the socio-cultural environment in Indonesia, namely Javanese and Sundanese: in Javanese, the word "raos" means "taste", while in Sundanese, the word "raos" means "delicious". This demonstrates that a language has a strong cultural connection with its speakers. Furthermore, the perspective of each person is very dependent on the culture that influences it and descriptions that are conveyed in a language that is formed from their culture. Understanding about a culture and society can be obtained by understanding the language. Emmit and Pollock (1997) argue that although people grow up in behind the same behavior or cultural situation but there is a possibility that theyuse a different language. Sapir-Whorf argues that the thinking that are conveyed by using different forms of language. Someone usually limited by the language he uses to express his opinion. Which language different will create different boundaries. Therefore, someone who learning a new language he must also learn the culture in which the language is used. (Allwright & Balley, 1991)



3. Role of Socio-Culture and Language Language plays an important role in communication, it expressed or changed thoughts or gave other view about other people. Language plays an important role in creating and expressing identity. Ethnic, dialects, accents can be a part of identity. Also, the use language plays a role in manage people in groups that has same factor as age, gender, socio-economic level, etc. Aside from that, language is part of our gender identity. Man and women has their own language both from choice of words and behavior. To keep social relations it also depends on language for more than just a communication. In example the language that used to express intimacy, unity, appreciation, formality, distance, and etc that will help to maintain or it can break your relationship.



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Social groups is a social unit consists of some individuals as a members which individuals have a status and role and in this unit there are a set rules, norms, or values that manage individual behavior in that groups. Social groups can lives within period or temporary and also it can be permanent like family. Social groups can be defined as a bridge for communication and interaction among the members for specific purposes.12



B. Examples of Interrelation between Language and Social Cultural Environment 1. Honorific system: Japan, Indonesia, United States a. Indonesia In Indonesia has honorific system in addressing people. Some like Javanese, Sundanese, and Betawi has their terms in addressing people. To addressing a young male that look older than the speaker by using “mas” in Javanese, “aa” or “akang” in Sundanese, “bang” in Betawi. To addressing a young female that look older than speaker by using “mbak” in Javanese, “teteh” in Sundanese, “mpok” in Betawi. The average location in Indonesia, addressing male that look 30+ age or married by using “Pak” both formal and informal, “Om” only informal and in Javanese by using “Pakdhe”, “Pak lek”, “Lek”. The average location in Indonesia, to addressing female that look 30+ or married by using “bu” or “ibu both formal and informal, “tante” that mostly called if related and in Javanese by using “budhe” or “bulek”. This is a rule that must be followed by everyone because it shows our respect for the elderly or good manners. If the speaker addressed someone stranger without using that honorific, it is impolite and shows no respect to the interlocutor. b. Japan According to Foley as cited in Mangga 13, Japanese has a system of honorific in addressing against someone. In example:



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Hardini, S & Sitohang, R. The Use Of Language As A Socialcultural Communication. Jurnal Littera: Fakultas Sastra Darma Agung Volume I, Nomor 2, Oktober 2019: 247 13



Stephanus Mangga (2015) Various Uses Of Address Forms In Japanese Society In Perspective Of Sociolinguistics And Anthropological Linguistics. Parole Vol.5 No.1, April 2015, 69



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Suffix –san can be used with both male and female names, and with either surnames or given names also can be attached to the name of occupations and titles. In terms of social distance, the form shows both intimate and distant relationships between the participants. For example, when a child addressed his/her parents by using “otoo-san” to call the father and “okaa-san” to call mother. Also it can be used to somebody else’s parents, it indicates distance and respect. And in the terms of social scale, it indicates the addressee is more superior or has a higher status than the speaker. In terms of formality scale, this form can be used in both formal and informal situations. Below are the the example: Surname



Koyomi san



Mr. Koyomi



Given name



Hitagi san



Miss. Hitagi



Honya san



Bookseller



Sakanaya san



Fishmonger



Shichou san



Mayor



Oisha san



Doctor



Occupation



Title



c. United States In America, to addresses someone is by calling his or her first name to shows the intimate and familiarity. In some American universities, the students addressed the teacher by calling their name without feeling of intrusion or feeling impolite. This honorific shows people’s expectation of intimacies between each other. But, it is impolite if call people by their first names who are with titles or high positions, such as governor or diplomat. Some reason that honorific happened that America belongs to the individualist culture. In this culture, the individual is the most important unit in any society, and the uniqueness in each person that has highest value.



2. Movement body language The movement of body can be language. In example nodding head, eye movement, hand movement, feet movement which means different from one country to another or one tribe to another. Eyes contact can be mean something which can be different to another country.



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In Amaerican, people must eye contact when talking. If the someone not do that, it will be considered impolite, hides something, or lack of honesty like the American phrase “ Do not trust a person who cannot look at you in the eye”. It is contrary from Javanese and Japanese culture that should not to look in the face and eye contact when do a conversation and it is considered impolite and rude. 14



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Hardini, S & Sitohang, R. The Use Of Language As A Socialcultural Communication. Jurnal Littera: Fakultas Sastra Darma Agung Volume I, Nomor 2, Oktober 2019: 243



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CHAPTER III CONCLUSION A. Conclusion Each social and cultural has a close relationship with language. The two cannot be separated from each other. Culture can be formed because of language; language can still exist because of social. If one of them is omitted then the language will disappear. Language is a means or tool used by humans to express thoughts and ideasfeelings so that the human mind can be influenced by language (Saddhono, 2014). In addition, language is a study of the grammatical structure, which contains aspects of sound, words, and sentences. Meanwhile in Bali, the terms sor (low level) and singgih (high level) are known (Saddhono, 2014). Therefore, language is one aspect of human life that cannot be separated from culture. Culture is the result of human reason and overview (Widyo siswoyo, 2004). This indicates that culture is one of the benchmarks an advanced civilization. On the other hand, language is a reflection of the existing culture, the characteristics of the resulting language come from the culture that build it. Such as the Javanese language which is used to transmit the values of local wisdom and culture character education from the fairy tale Sayu Wiwit (Fatimah, Sulistyo, &Saddhono, 2017). Language is a cultural product that cannot be separated (Koentjaraningrat, 2005). Agree with Mardikantoro, Masinambouw (2000) states that language occupies a central and important position in life because language has multiple aspects which include biological, psychological, social, and cultural. Therefore, language and culture are two things that cannot be separated because both have a very close relationship and mutually influence each other (Abusyairi, 2013). In language, one should pay attention to the norms that apply in language the cultural system in which the language is spoken. Language and culture in an area or region have various interactions. Through language and culture, future generations can know the development and civilizations in the



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past. However, in our sociocultural environment, such difference is impossible to achieve . This is true perception of reality as expressed in the linguistic repertoire of a specific environment's culture and subculture. Linguistic relativity asserts that different cultures understand the world differently and that these distinctions are stored in languages. As a result, language and experience partition the world in arbitrary ways. Language and social context have become linked as a result of the influence of social structures on language. Language incorporates a cultural vision, which includes preserving, sustaining, and transmitting collective notions, historical, philosophical, socio-cultural, and ecological values of a society . Language is a cultural symbol and element that is present in all aspects of human life. Humans and language are two entities that cannot be separated since humans exist because language serves as a source of self-identity and language exists because humans use it in daily conversation. This demonstrates how the concepts of langue and parole, two essential concepts proposed by Saussure (1995) , can be used to understand the role of language in numerous facets of human life .



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REFERENCES



Alwin F. Fill HerminePenz. (2018) The Routledge Handbook of Ecolinguistics. Routledge: Newyork. Derni, A. (2008). The Ecolinguisticcs Paradigm: An Integrationist Trend in Language Study. The International Journal of Language Society and Culture, 21-30. Hardini, S & Sitohang, R. The Use Of Language As A Socialcultural Communication. Jurnal Littera: Fakultas Sastra Darma Agung Volume I, Nomor 2, Oktober 2019: 238-249 Hariyono, S. (2020).Falia Expression Protecting Environmental Ecosystem in Barangka District. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 7(1), 79-98. Jon Reyhner. (2017) Affirming identity: The role of language and culture in American Indian education. Taylor and Francis Online Journal.Cogent Education, 4:1, 1340081, DOI: 10.1080/2331186X.2017.1340081 Keraf, G.(2004). Komposisi Sebuah Pengantar Kemahiran Bahasa. Flores: Nusa Indah. Koentjaraningrat.(2005). Pengantar Antropologi. Jakarta: RinekaCipta. Mangga, Stephanus. (2015). Various Uses Of Address Forms In Japanese Society In Perspective Of Sociolinguistics And Anthropological Linguistics. Parole Vol.5 No.1 Maria,M. & Namok,N. (2020). The Ritual of Ecolexicon in the Text of Batar in Tetun Fehan Malaka,Timor, East Nusa Tenggara Province: Ecolinguistic View.e-Journal of Linguistics,14(1), 44-56. Nirmalasari, et.al (2019). Falia‘s Ke-kaghati-an in Muna Speech Community From the Ecolinguistic Perspective. e-Journal of Linguistics, 13, (2), 233—241.



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Okafor, G.O. “Language in Society and Culture”. Nnonyelu A.U. (ed). Humanities and Natural Development. Enugu: NGB Publishers, 2001. 32-46. Ratna, Nyoman Kutha (2005) Sastra dan Cultural Studies: Representasi Fiksi dan Fakta. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar. Singh, Ishtla “Language and Ethnicity” Language Society and Power: An introduction.Linda &Wareing Shan. London. Routledge, 1999. Uyanne, C. M., Onuoha, E. C., &Osigwe, N. A. (2017). Ecolinguistic perspective: Dialectics of Language and Environment. Awka Journal of English Language and Literary Studies, 5(1), 150-169. WenQiu (2014). Aristotle‟s Definition of Language. International Journal of English Literature and Culture. Vol. 2(8), pp. 194-202,



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