Language and Culture

Language can influence thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and social stereotypes. It allows us to manipulate symbols rather than objects. It directs our attention, as the advertising industry knows very well. It allows us to create detailed plans for the future--we can think ahead in abstract terms. Finally, although the extent to which linguistic differences between cultures results in different ways of thinking and perceiving remains an open question, we can conjecture that language is a powerful social tool for cultural transformation.

Educators, parents, child psychologists, and all socially conscious citizens would do well to heed Benjamin Lee Whorf's (1897-1941) view that language shapes thought. If the young mind is especially malleable, it would appear that language issues relevant to parent-child communication, peer-peer communication, identity, and cultural influences in general, should be vastly important. Whorf's view that "We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native languages" has currently been adapted to the more modern view that "language has a powerful influence on cognition" (cited in Wade and Tavris, 1990, p. 304).

It is for the above reason that child psychologists should be especially interested in the implications of language use in, and with, the young; after all, formative cognitive structures serve as the future schemata for adult perception. The fact that humans process language similarly enables researchers to conclude that t

h as middle class parents do. Middle and upper class parents emphasize proper grammar, feeling that its correct use reflects conscientious family training and upbringing . . . they are also more likely to discuss things with their children, listen to them, and use verbal methods of discipline than are lower class parents. In addition, these children are given more praise and affection when they use words correctly. (p. 151) Even if one dismisses the cultural bias in the above citation, it is a reality that social class (or educational level) is determined by speech and one's ability to effectively communicate in writing. To this extent, the importance of language in any given society cannot be underestimated. Next, it is important to turn from the language of the dominant culture to the language of a subculture to illustrate that communication is a universal need. In addition, it will become apparent that there is language status within a subculture, also. Graffiti taggers have their own lexicon for the art of tagging, and the graffiti subculture prides itself on the ability to communicate a personal statement effectively. Graffiti subcultural language could also be considered peer language, since it is used by a narrowly