Language In Cross-Cultural Understanding









Introduction
Much of our understanding of the world comes from words: the words that others use to describe their experiences and impressions to us. And much of what others know, about what we have learned, comes from the words that we use to explain it. But what about our education if the words that others use are not accurate? And, what is our responsibility as we share information? To accurately and sensitively convey our experiences and impressions we should choose the best words for the job. One step to creating better international understanding is to be conscientious about using language that accurately conveys what we mean.
It's been said, many times in many ways, that language structures our thinking and opinions. The adage seems hold especially true for Westerners' perceptions of non-Westerners and more specifically non-White cultures. Take the words: "hut" and "palace". They probably create two very different pictures in your mind's eye, because language structures our thinking.
In several parts of Africa, royal families are involved in agriculture and sleep at "the palace" which is a complex of detached, usually one-room structures commonly made of daga (adobe). The buildings have a variety of purposes and come in a variety of shapes and sizes: some are used for sleeping (bedrooms), some for congregating (living rooms), some for cooking (kitchens) and others for storage (pantries or granaries.) Africans, speaking their indigenous languages would not call any of these "huts".
A hut, as defined by Webster, is: 1. A crudely built dwelling or shelter. 2. A temporary structure for sheltering troops.
If you return from traveling and tell your friends, 1) "I slept in a hut", or 2) "I slept in a palace", your friends will have a very different image about your experience. You will influence, through your selection of words, how your friends will view your experience, and through extension, the l