Learning a New Language = Decoding a New Culture

Everything seems normal, and all the grammatical and semantic rules make sense while you are speaking only one language, and you can’t think outside as if this is the touchstone and if you are being asked about this matter, you may wonder if there are any other rules than these to be applied to languages. Isn’t this how human language was supposed to be? The answer is shockingly no! In fact, there are some fixed features of so-called “human languages,” but zooming in, you can’t find drastic variances among them.

Once you put your foot into a new language, you’re going to learn that you cannot always find an equivalent for a word, expression, or idiom. This is the beginning of an adventure, exploring thoughts behind each word and sentence in languages. Each language serves as a unique lens through which its speakers perceive and interpret the world around them. When coming across unfamiliar linguistic ideas, you’re encouraged to explore the deeper cultural subtleties inherent in the language.

When I delved into the Persian language (one of my mother tongues) for teaching purposes and analyzed the grammar, I realized a set of grammar rules, expressions, and words specifically used to show respect to elderly/authority figures, reflecting deeply ingrained cultural values of respect and hierarchy.

Moreover, I can turn to the Kurdish language to give you more examples. This language, in all its dialects, contains a wide range of Geographical and Environmental vocabulary as it’s located in a rich natural region. I have been observing various words regarding every single herb growing on mounts, which are not known to others but only to scientists.

In addition, in Inuit languages, such as Inuktitut and Yupik, rather than having a single generic term for “snow,” they differentiate between various types of snow based on texture, density, and other characteristics. This, interestingly, highlights the adaptive nature of language to environmental conditions.

In summary, learning a foreign language goes beyond acquiring new words; it exposes us to diverse approaches to thought and communication, providing insights into the rich tapestry of customs, beliefs, and viewpoints held by different cultures. Language learning becomes a profound exploration of human variety and connection, fostering empathy and comprehension across cultural divides.