Essay The Cultural Context of Language - 901 Words

Have you ever thought about the way in which we communicate with others? What meaning can you give a symbol, thought, word, or even a single gesture if it is unknown to you? The complexities of communicating with other cultures and people with different concepts of unknown views and symbols would be difficult to derive a meaning during the interaction. This paper will look at Zimbabwe’s cultural context defined by Edward T Hall’s context theories focusing on their main written and verbal languages in the country. Edward T Hall’s was an Anthologist that had three theories: High / Low Communication Context, Monochronic and Polychronic time, and Conception of Time and Proxemics. High / Low Communication Context looks at the levels in which†¦show more content†¦The need to have that close bond is evident in one’s ability to add the personal information missing from the sentence told. (the other dimension of time, 1983)(The silent language, 1990,1981,1 959)( The hidden dimension., 1992)( Beyond culture , 1976) The Zimbabwe culture is a high-context society that relies on their history, status, relationships, and religion, to assign meaning to an event. The Zimbabwe people use vast information networks between family, friends, and associates. Their relationships tend to be close, personal, and well informed about the people who are important in their lives, thus giving the cultures experiences and inferences meanings to an event. The context of communication in their culture is conveyed by experiences and expectations; from influences drawn from that culture a few words and gestures can communicate an elaborate message very effectively. (The other dimension of time, 1983) (The silent language, 1990,1981,1959)( The hidden dimension., 1992)( Beyond culture , 1976)(BBC, 2014)(CIA, 2014) (The Cultural Environment, 2014) Zimbabwe is made up of many trebled cultures, speaking a wide variety of indigenes languages. There are around sixte en languages reflecting the sixteen main tribes in Zimbabwe. The (tentative) official three languages of Zimbabwe; is English, Shona, and the Ndebele language. Their language focus is for their children to speak two otherShow MoreRelatedLanguage Between Language And Language1680 Words   |  7 PagesLanguage arose out of a need to communicate ideas and commands. Initially it was very basic, but in its current form language is very complex. It a adapted to the changing need of speakers. In this sense, language is a living entity which evolves in response to the changing cultural context in which it exists. 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