relation of Language and Cultural Identity
Introduction Language and cultural identity are undoubtedly very closely correlated. Since the time of Ancient Greece, scholars have argued that there is a tangible and irrefutable connection between culture and language. If I ask myself how important language is in maintaining and shaping a sense of self, I cannot but agree that linguistic commonality not only fashions a cultural identity but also reflects social, ethnic and national identity. On the other hand, I would be wrong in saying that two people conversing in the same language necessarily share the same cultural identity. Defining Language I would like to start with a brief definition of ‘language’ from the Encyclopedia Britannica.