First of, language is the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way conveyed by speech or writing. A personality frame is an outline of the study of human personality. It includes offshoots that indicate the position of personality amidst its neighboring systems such as a person’s situations and inner parts of personality as well. Language does not only reflect and express facts and observation, it also influences attitudes and behavior.
Language is a vital component of the cultural function essential to societal development. It is funny how many students of this 21st century do not understand their own language properly and feel they know all about a foreign language, especially the English language. The subsequent paragraphs of this article will shed light on how language conveys one’s personality through cultural and social changes.
Moving on, culture influence the words we speak and the words we speak influences culture. Some persons do not understand culture and so it is displayed in their level of thinking, if culture is understood, the use of language may not be so difficult. One’s culture exhibits in language in the example below:Yoruba says “A kin ti oju oni ka mesan ka”, which means one cannot count complete fingers in front of the person that has nine fingers. But a person who does not have knowledge on his or her language can just walk up to the person and make jest of him or her and something else can happen. Some words available in Yoruba is not available in English and this influences how one talks due to limitation of vocabulary.
Culture is not solely determined by a person’s native language or nationality but the level of reasoning as well. Some persons believe that President Muhammad Buari should carry his bag like the late Queen Elizabeth of England does, forgetting that the culture of each personality are different.
Culturally influenced differences in language can lead to some encounters,ranging from awkwardness , to misinformation, to being disastrous. It is culture that makes you know that it is right for you to think before you speak.
Social changes in language affects values in ways that have not been accurately described; language incorporates social values. The manner in which a person navigates the society with language has to do with the influence of his or her environment have on them. For instance, a person who lives in Bariga (rural area) cannot be compared to a child who resides in Banana Island. The way each of them will use language will definitely differ from the other. Some children in these urban areas might not want to even associate with the ones in the rural areas, and that is where you find a situation where the rural ones leave fake lives and want to “belong” to big girls and boys by all mean. When me have the knowledge of one’s language, then you know who to mingle with.
In conclusion, the use of language, common to an individual sometimes portrays who the person really is and creates a sense of belonging. The use of language distinguishes different people from different traditions, professions, classes and so on. The actual language we speak plays an important role in shaping our realities,utterances, conveys a lot about an individual. Parents also should be willing to teach their children their indigenous language so that they can acknowledge and understand the beauty of language.
Onileere Oluwatomisin Nifemi, is a 200L student from the Department of English, Lagos State University.
