Reflective Writing

Reflection

Language and culture like a tree. It grows every day start from the root until it results a big tree with thousands leaves. Root is the important part of tree; it strengthens the tree and keep it stands straight. We choose root to represent language and tree represents culture. As the root shares mineral throughout all parts of the tree to give nutrition and make it alive, so do how the language create and keep culture alive. We believe that language shapes how people communicate to each other and also helping people to view things contrarily. Kramsch describes the relation between language and culture in three verbs; language expresses, embodies and symbolizes culture reality. Theses verbs are actually possessed similar meaning that language helps people to understand and or do the culture. Culture cannot be seen nor convey without language; whether spoken or written language. It creates the meaning to certain group that only understood by the member of that group. The example of our experience is when we entered English study program. We have to pass a process named “Binkrab” where it has been a tradition of English Study Program to introduce the study program for all freshmen. During that process, the committee taught us about the requirement of how to be good learners and study well in ESP. Also its process consists of some activities and songs that given by the senior. This tradition has started from previous generations until now and by sharing it to us (through language), the culture or tradition of “Binkrab” will never decay. This is how the language can preserve cultures. Kramsch’s statement that “language is not culture-free code” means culture is existed within the use of language. In fact, language helps culture to be maintained. How we can possible know about ESP tradition, songs, tips about how to be a good learner in ESP from generation to generation if not from the story spoken or written by seniors in Binkrab. The past culture has been passed for us through language and current culture will be passing for people in the future through language as well.

In the poem of Emily Dickinson about Roses, the use of “General Rose” which represents Nature, “The Lady” as Language, and “The Attar” or fragrance of the Roses as Culture.  This poem put language and culture to weird relationship where they can both influence each other in so many ways. Naturally, rose is just one of beautiful flowers which can be wilted anytime. Unfortunately, the natural characteristic of a flower makes it only beautiful when we see it directly. On the flip side, culture and language can do things nature cannot. Time has no effect on both culture and language. Culture brings Rose to so many ears through language. It makes people imagine how beautiful Rose is. Every time someone mention Rose, the definition of Rose develop in society will lead them to define it by the culture they kept and language they heard. Roses may be only a kind of flower but culturally, Rose is a sign of true love and sometimes can also be a sign of a Lady. The Lady and the Rose is not immortal, the Lady can die and the Rose can “decay”, but the Rose can be immortal when the perfume maker change the rose petal into high cost perfume. From the perfume, the Lady can use it, and the fragrance of the rose made her immortal. We can conclude that, “Culture is never died, when Language make it immortals”. We can know about the culture of one community because of language. There is the “screw” as socialization or acculturation to be a “gift” of the culture to know about the community. Language and culture need each other by supporting each of their existences in society.

Members of speech community believe in a general definition toward particular things. Basically, society has variants definition of something. The people who have similar definition of those particular things will lead them to be in one speech community. For instance, some people believe chocolate is a symbol of fat people, because people who consume chocolate a lot mostly fat. Or, some people also think that chocolate is a symbol of Valentine’s Day; people show their affection on people they care by giving them chocolate. Those who believe in one of those two definitions of chocolate will put them in one speech community with others who have similar thought. Member of discourse community share same interest toward something. Me, Mima and Dilla are in one discourse community since we love Korean music, drama, and culture. Resti, Dewi, and Dilla love reading Novel that makes them have their own discourse community. Vano and Richard love Ariana Grande, it also causes them to have their own discourse community. Discourse community recruits people by relevant qualification. They share same topic, thought and mindset when they meet. FRG also can be considered as discourse community since we discussed things that other people might not think to discuss. It leads to the discussion about imagined community. The basic knowledge about imagined community is not based on face to face communication. Korean lovers, Novel club or Ariana grande’s fans are from all around the world. Yet, they cannot meet every day to discuss things but the communication is made by social media. In addition, media also can be one imagined community. Sometimes, media creates stereotype to people by their images, videos and news. People who watch, read and or listen to media are considered in one imagined community since they do not see things happening in real but through the story created by media. In addition, the project we did for CCU class – Cyber Pal is also another example of imagined community.

Discussed and written by:

Ayu Aprilya Sari Abdullah

Resti Safitri Ali

Manase Richard Masela