The influence of social contacts on language and culture in a changing society

Essay from the year 2013 in the subject Ethnology / Cultural Anthropology, grade: 1.0, University of Canterbury (Social Anthropology), course: Language and culture, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this paper is to give an insight on the meaning of language and culture change and to show the exceptional capabilities of social contacts that leads to major changes in societies. The following chapters will first focus on the significance of a language in culture and furthermore will continue to dispute the relations to culture as such. Although there are many proposals on language, an anthropological view will be provided, with the intention to see language as a practical phenomenon in society. Next, a few changing processes and the causes and impacts will be mentioned. The analysing of factors and influences that leads to change will be displayed and subsequently the author will mention one illustration on a particular language called Tok Pisin. Finally, the importance of language for identity will complete the paper.