Language ,culture and knowledge Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Language ,culture and knowledge - Coursework Example ould thoroughly explore the importance of language in our society if we want to gain an accurate understanding or appreciation of the social change mechanisms which we observe working all around us. Basically, language is an indispensable element of human communication and is a vital component of all forms of society and culture. It is an open and multifaceted structure that enables change, adaptation, and progress (Agha, 2007). It can be conveyed or passed on in a number of ways—verbally and non-verbally. Language is important to culture and society, with human beings making use of it not only to communicate or express themselves, but also to relate to a specific cultural or social group (Agha, 2007). Language is a medium of expression and enables an individual to take part in community or societal affairs. It may be used as an instrument to build and sustain a democratic society. It is also vital as shared human achievements and continuing expressions of human innovation and creativity. This is supported by the rationale of UNESCO for language conservation that the world’s languages embody a remarkable fortune and array of human ingenuity (Agha, 2007). They comprise and convey the overall traditions and wisdom cultivated over time through rituals and heritage passed on through native languages. In essence, our culture and society are preserved or continue to exist because of language. I have heard the programme of UNESCO and strongly agree to their efforts to preserve the world’s languages because, as already mentioned, language is the vessel and the medium of traditions that uphold culture and society. Furthermore, language can create opportunities, facilitate social mobility, and endow power. Some scholars compellingly claim that in several aspects, language is power. A society’s linguistic status generally reveals its power structure, since language is a potent mechanism of social control. In my experience, it is true that those speakers of minority