@article{ART001594072},
author={Michela Montevecchi},
title={Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa},
journal={Cross-Cultural Studies},
issn={1598-0685},
year={2011},
volume={24},
pages={205-226},
doi={10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205}
TY - JOUR
AU - Michela Montevecchi
TI - Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa
JO - Cross-Cultural Studies
PY - 2011
VL - 24
IS - null
PB - Center for Cross Culture Studies
SP - 205
EP - 226
SN - 1598-0685
AB - South Africa is a multiracial country where different cultures and languages coexist. Culture can be conveyed through language. Language conditioning is also social conditioning, and through words we make sense of our own and others’ experience. In this paper I investigate the meaning of two culturally significant words: (English) peace and (African) ubuntu. Data findings will show how L2 speakers of English, when asked to define peace, promptly operate a process of transfer of the meaning from their mother-tongue Xhosa equivalent – uxolo - to its English equivalent. Ubuntu, an African word which encompasses traditional African values, has no counterpart in English. I will also argue how, in the ongoing process of globalisation, English is playing a predominant role in promoting cultural homogenization.
KW - culture;language;English;peace;ubuntu.
DO - 10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
ER -
Michela Montevecchi. (2011). Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa. Cross-Cultural Studies, 24, 205-226.
Michela Montevecchi. 2011, "Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa", Cross-Cultural Studies, vol.24, pp.205-226. Available from: doi:10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
Michela Montevecchi "Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa" Cross-Cultural Studies 24 pp.205-226 (2011) : 205.
Michela Montevecchi. Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa. 2011; 24 205-226. Available from: doi:10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
Michela Montevecchi. "Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa" Cross-Cultural Studies 24(2011) : 205-226.doi: 10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
Michela Montevecchi. Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa. Cross-Cultural Studies, 24, 205-226. doi: 10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
Michela Montevecchi. Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa. Cross-Cultural Studies. 2011; 24 205-226. doi: 10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
Michela Montevecchi. Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa. 2011; 24 205-226. Available from: doi:10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
Michela Montevecchi. "Culture in language: comparing cultures through words in South Africa" Cross-Cultural Studies 24(2011) : 205-226.doi: 10.21049/ccs.2011.24..205
