Language: Sociology and Cultural Identity Essay

Submitted By alys001
Words: 567
Pages: 3
Open Document
English 125- Assignment #3
10 September 2014 Insert Random Title Language plays the most vital role in everyday life. It is how people understand and interact with one another. People express their thoughts, intentions, and desires through language. “A body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition”(Dictionary.com). Language is entwined in peoples’ daily lives; it is a part of them. Communication is the key to the purpose of language because of its ability to express ones feelings, socialization amongst people, and establishing a person’s cultural identity. People agree, disagree, argue, and establish their opinion. Language is responsible for voicing people’s feelings and because of that people can form tighter bonds. For example, in the short story “Me Talk Pretty One Day”, David Sedaris wrote, “My only comfort was the knowledge that I was not alone” (146 Mercury Reader). The fact that Sedaris’s classmates were feeling the same way as him and were able to communicate their feelings towards each other comforted him. Once they expressed their feelings and understood how similar they felt it made them feel at ease. Without language they would not have the ability to express themselves like that.
Socialization was created by language. People watch how others interact and converse with one another. A person can tell a lot from how someone speaks. For instance, if someone were in a job interview and he or she talked with vulgar language they most likely would not be hired. The way a person speaks shows what kind of person they are. Language has developed socialization to have this effect on people. There are social norms and certain acceptable behaviors. All this brought on by language; it is their ability to voice out what is acceptable and what is not. Much like language, social norms contrast drastically depending on the location. Language can be heavily tied into cultural identity because a persons language is who they are, it is what they grew up with and how they communicate. In the story, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua she writes, “There are more subtle ways that we internalize identification,
Show More

Related Documents: Language: Sociology and Cultural Identity Essay

Sociology Essay

associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. a body of individuals living as members of a community; community. the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society. a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society. such a system…

Words 544 - Pages 3

Immigrant And Refugee Family Research Paper

and coping mechanisms. As the world grapples with unprecedented levels of forced displacement, understanding the complexities of relocation and resettlement is essential for understanding the experiences of these families. Drawing on insights from sociology, psychology, and anthropology, this essay explores the challenges faced by immigrant and refugee households, as well as the coping strategies they employ to navigate these difficulties. Challenges Faced by Immigrant and Refugee Families Both immigrant…

Words 606 - Pages 3

Heterodox Paper 1

Jacqueline Weinreb Heterodox Identities March 23rd, 2014 Paper #1 Social scientists as well as philosophers have argued and pondered for years over the complex relationship between race and identity. Race has always been a hot topic, even when the United States was still being established. Since then, theorists have not only struggled with their own ways of interpreting the two, but opposing perspectives as well. In addition to the complex components of race and identity, social scientists also…

Words 5282 - Pages 22

Sociology Notes Essay

Intro into Sociology January 16th 2015 Auguste Comte (1798-1857) Earliest Sociologist Question he had: What holds society together? What creates social order instead of anarchy or chaos? What cause society to change? Little bit ambitious of sociology and would take the place of religion. Emile Durkheim (1858-1817) French and grew up in a Jewish family Tried to legitimize sociology as an academic field Studied Suicide and why some group of people have higher rate of them instead of other Causes of…

Words 1271 - Pages 6

The Roles of Identity in Society Essay

The Roles of Identity in Society Many would argue that social justice is being served when someone says “we are all the same under the skin”. We are not all the same under the skin. Within us are our own senses of identity, constructed by our familiar discourses, the physical environment and its embedded culture, and our individual differences. Our sense of identity accounts for our perceptions of ourselves and how we are positioned by others in terms of culture, tradition, rituals, race, family…

Words 2072 - Pages 9

Sociology Essay

What is Sociology? Discuss the key sociological concepts and perspectives and apply one perspective to an area of your professional practice. The primary purpose of this essay is to discuss sociology. Some definitions will be discussed as well as sociological concepts and perspectives. A sociological perspective will also be applied to the area of Health and Social Care provisions. According to Marsh and Keating (2006) “Sociological is regarded as an essential part of training courses for teachers…

Words 1264 - Pages 6

Aps Study Guide Unit 1 Essay

Physical Anthropology: Study of human evolution, human biology and other primates * Cultural Anthropology (Archaeology and Ethnographers): The investigation of the origin, development and functioning of human cultures What are the subfields of cultural anthropology? * Linguistics: How language is linked to culture, the structure of language and the connections among language, the brain and cultural behaviour. * Archaeology: Study artifacts such as weapons, clothing, cooking utensils…

Words 1126 - Pages 5

course notes Essay

Sociology Semester 2 2011 Sociology 100 – Issues and Themes in Sociology University of Auckland Semester 2 2011 Sociology Semester 2 2011 Sociology 100 – Issues and Themes in Sociology • • The sociological perspective/way of seeing society has been described by Bauman as “the habit of viewing human actions as elements of wider figurations: that is of a non-random assembly of actors locked together in a web of mutual dependency.” (pg. 7 of ‘Being Sociological’) According to Peter…

Words 8678 - Pages 35

Sociology: Sociology and a. Social Life Essay

Sociology 103 Summer 2011 Term Test 1 Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question. Indicate your answer by blacking in the relevant box on the SCANTRON sheet. Be sure to print your name and student number clearly on the answer sheet. 1. Most people agree that sociology first emerged: (pg1) a. approximately 70 years ago, following the end of World War II b. in the early 19th century when Max Weber invented the term sociologie about 200 years ago…

Words 4549 - Pages 19

Sociology study guide Essay

Chapter 4 review Sociology Test Social reproduction is the process of perpetuating values, norms, and social practices through socialization, which leads to structural continuity over time. Four main agents of socialization: Family, Schools, peer relationships, mass media In a family, children will grow up based on the actions of their parents and that will have an impact on how they are behaved. In schools, kids are taught to raise their hand and not speak when the teacher is talking.…

Words 840 - Pages 4