Elif GÜVENDİ YALÇIN

INE 606 Culture and Language Teaching

Asst. Prof. Dr. Zerrin EREN

Culture and Cultural Connotations of EnglishLanguage

Introduction

In this era of information and technology explosion, people in the world come into contact

with one another more often and more easily than ever before. The need for mastering a

foreign or second language besides one’s own seems to dramatically grow. More people are

learning languages for their personal and professional needs. Although the field of language

teaching has done an excellent job to accommodate the needs of language learners, the field

may have to do even more and better to address the various needs of language learners.

Specifically, cultural aspects of the language being learned must be taught concurrently with

the linguistic aspects, which have traditionally been emphasized. In fact language and culture

are closely related. Since English is the most widely studied language in the world it sure has

cultural implications in it. Thus, in order to master English as a foreign language, students

should be informed about the cultural connotations of the language. This paper attempts to

partially shed some light on this issue by discussing the relationship between language and

culture and the importance of learning cultural connotations of English Language.

What is language?

Language has been around since human beings started to communicate with one another for

their daily life needs. According to Kramsch (1998:3) language is “a system of signs that is

seen as having itself a cultural value.” Generally speaking, language can be regarded as a

system of verbal and nonverbal signs used to express meanings. Language is a part of a

culture, and culture is a part of the language; the two are intricately interwoven so that one

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cannot separate the two without losing the significance of either language or culture. To put it

simply the acquisition of a second language is also the acquisition of a second culture.

Nowadays language teachers are being urged to make culture a part of their language

lessons. Some teachers emphasize ‘Culture with a big C’ – the fine arts, literature and history,

institutions, etc. Others emphasize ‘culture with a little c’, focusing on British and American

everyday life – the norms, habits and behavior of the people in those societies. Some

emphasize the patterns of communication, verbal and non-verbal, which can be observed

between members of these societies – who says what to whom, as well as how, when

and where they say it, and under what circumstances. Still other teachers focus on the values

and attitudes displayed by British and American people. For this reason, among the more

recently published language teaching texts and materials are many that focus on cultural

behavior and the role it plays in communication. Rather than presenting English in isolation,

such materials encourage students to make and share cross-cultural comparisons and to learn

about British and American behavior and customs as they practice and improve their English

language skills. (Scribd: Oxford Guide to British and American Culture: December: 3-4) That

is, to teach English the cultural connotations of English language should be discussed in

language classrooms. English Language is learned through words or vocabulary and words

have both denotations and connotations. As it is cited in Brooks 1968:145) mistakes in lexis

much more often lead to misunderstanding and may be less generously tolerated outside

classroom than mistakes in syntax.

What is denotation and connotation?

While the denotation refers to the dictionary or literal meaning of a word connotation refers to

the associations that are connected to a certain word or the emotional suggestions related to

that word. The connotative meanings of a word exist together with the denotative meanings.

For instance; if you look up the word snake in a dictionary, you will discover that one

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of its denotative meanings is "any of numerous scaly, legless, sometimes venomous reptiles

having a long, tapering, cylindrical body and found in most tropical and temperate regions.”

On the other hand, connotations for the word snake could include evil or danger. As it is

obvious from the example that non-native speakers often have difficulty

with connotation, while native speakers may use the words appropriately

though unconsciously.

English language like other languages is rich in connotations of words. For

example; to understand the slang “hey man” the connotative meaning of

“man” other than its denotative meaning should be known. Likewise in

order to understand the connotative meaning of the words the culture

which is hidden inside the social sciences, music, arts, history, and natural

science of the language should be also studied ((Bashforth, 2010, December).

Cultural Connotations in English Idioms

As one of the most important and used language in the world, English has its own splendid

culture. An idiom most often refers to a phrase or expression that cannot be understood by

knowing what the individual words in the phrase mean. And an idiom is the reflection of its

culture in history, geography environment, customs, religion, fables and myth, arts and

literature and sports and other entertainments. The connotative meaning in idioms should be

studied by English learners. The connotative meaning is discussed in several areas.

CONNOTATION OF ENGLISH IDIOMS

History Notes in English Idioms

The development of history had great influences on language. And lots of culture history

traces was left to language in this development. As one of the most important parts of

language, idioms absorb a lot from history. A look back to history, the changes of the earth,

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ethnic migrations, conquers and assimilation in nationalities and wars of nationalities are the

main factors in the developments of idioms.

Essayair (cultural connotations, 2010, December) defines a number of historical events in

idioms:

 Roman, Germanic Tribes, Scandinavians and Normandy’s Conquest

Roman, Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes), Scandinavians and Normandy’s conquest

have immense impacts on the history development of Great Britain. These conquerors brought

their war, their lives their names, their language and others belong to them to England. For

example:

1. “Do in Rome as the Romans do”: Rome is a country far from England. We can get lots of

information from this proverb.

2. “Rain cats and dogs.” In old Scandinavians (Norsemen), their God is Odin. Dogs and

wolves are the symbol of wind and cats represent rain in this mythology system.

 Independence of North American Colonies.

Great Britain set her first colony Virginia in North America in 1607 and then English starts its

new development history. Though American English comes from its basic British English, it

has some differences from British English. For example:

1. “Ok”: It is a typical American English idiom. It comes from an Indian words “Okeh”.

 First and Second World Wars

Wars especially world wars are important events in human’s society; they are also big bombs

to language. The two world wars” influences on the two main English spoken countries are

great. It is said that more than 6000 words were made in WWI. For example:

1. “A-bomb”: It referred to atom bomb in the war time. It means a very fast racing car in slang

and something drugs related.

 Geography Environment in English Idioms

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Culture could not exist without a certain physical geographic environment. Language absorbs

a lot from the environment on the land. Navigation and Fishery, mining and animal husbandry

are very developed in United Kingdom. One should also consider the foggy and rainy

maritime climates when discussing the connotative meaning in English idioms.

1. “Big fish”- tycoon, “cool fish” -cool customer, “loose fish”- a dissolute, “shy fish”- shy

person...

2. “Black sheep”: a black sheep is an unwelcome one in its group and the wool of the black

sheep is very cheap. The black sheep compares to a man of useless.

3. “Lose one’s wool”: If one loses his/her wool, he/she will lose his/her temper.

4. “It never rains but it pours.” We may know from this idiom that England always rain and it

rains a lot. This one means all bad things happen at the same time.

 English Customs in Its Idioms

Custom is a phenomenon of a society. An idiom is an authentic way of expression in any

language. It is loaded with rich cultural information of a nation’s language. Custom is not the

result of one body and it is formed within a society’s work. Food and drink, animals and pets

and names would be important parts in custom. For example:

1. “Earn one’s bread”: It means working hard to raise oneself

2. “Bread and butter”: Bread and butter is the staple food of the British. They would not be

alive without it in a way. So it’s a necessary thing to them. They should earn a living on it.

3. “Big cheese”: It can compare to VIP.

The British treat dogs as their loyal friend. Canine idioms exist in a big amount in English.

For example:

1. “Lucky dog”: It refers to a man who is lucky.

2. “Curiosity killed a cat.”

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We do not know when the custom of name comes into the world. In English names come

from different ways. One can be called Black or White according to the color of their skin.

People could use a job as names, Baker, Butcher, Hunter and so on. An animal could also be a

name. In English language, there are many idioms related to names. For example:

1. “Every man jack”: Jack is a common name in English, so it means everyone. Many boys

have the name Jack and the Jack is a saying for a boy under a certain circumstance.

2. “Jack and Jill”: Jill is a common name of girls. Jack and Jill means boy and girl.

 Religious Belief on English Idioms

Religion is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny. It

was produced a long time ago. Religion is an important part of human culture and ideology.

Language is connected with religions unavoidably. Many religion words exist in current

English. Idioms as a part of language have some ones of religious. Some idioms came from

religion stories, figures and in the Bible. For example:

1. “At the eleventh hour”

It comes from a story in Matthew, 20. One should know the story first or he/she could not

understand the idiom. “At the eleventh hour” means coming in time or at the last minute.

2. “Old Adam”, “Cain”.

We can learn from the Bible that Adam is our human’s primogenitor. He had did something

wrong. Cain, Adam’s eldest son, has killed his younger brother. Then Old Adam became the

pronoun of human being’s original sin, and Cain the pronoun of faction or rebellion.

English idioms learn a lot from the Bible. It can be found in some common idioms. Of course,

“Oh God” is one.

 Arts Literature and Mythology Fables

Arts Literature

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When English Literature comes to mind Shakespeare’s works stand out in numerous outputs.

William Shakespeare is the most popular writer and most widely respected writer in all

English literature. To show his popularity, more of the popularity sayings we have come from

Shakespeare than from other source except Bible. He is a great dramatist and poet in the age

of English Renaissance and one of the best among the famous writers in the world. We can

always find idioms from Shakespeare’s works. For example:

1. “scotch the snake”: It means to disable a dangerous one. “We have scotched the snake, not

killed it.”

Besides William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, George G. Byron, Charles Dickens and

other writers from English spoken country also have immense impact on History of English

Literature.

1. “Heads I win, tails you lose”

This idiom stems from English poet Samuel Butler’s poem Hudubras. This is a mean sort of

bargain. It’s a case of heads you win, tails you lose.

2. “I will eat my hat if …”

This one was first created by Charles Dickens in his The Pickwick Papers. It means that I will

never do something.

 Mythology Fables

Myth is an important arts creation of early human. It played an indispensable role in ancient

times. It has influence on language the first time when language emerged. Fable is a

traditional short story creates by common people. The language of a nationality is permeated

by fables and so is fable. Greek and Roman mythology made a big difference in British for

history reasons. In the fable, Aesop’s Fables is the main one. Greek and Roman mythology

tell the story of gods and the legends of hero. Aesop’s Fables are collections of animal stories

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about the sense of worth in western country. The stories of gods: Mercury fig, Promethean

fire, Pandora’s Box for example.

Legends of hero: the Herculean efforts, Golden Fleece, Jason, Medea and other heroes.

Aesop’s Fables: cry wolf, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, sour grapes are all familiar fables. There

are many mythology stories and fables in English idioms. English idiom is closely connected

with them.

Conclusion

The formation of idioms and the language in the national culture is close connected. The

culture produces idioms in a sense. Idiom has the great national characteristics; moreover it is

one of the most remarkable parts between one language and another language. Therefore, we

should learn the connotation meaning if we want to move on advanced study. Idioms, as a

special form of language exist in both of the language and culture and carry a large amount of

cultural information such as history, geography, religion, custom, nationality psychology,

thought pattern and so on, and therefore are closely related to culture. They are the heritage of

history and product of cultural evolvement. Consequently, we can know much about culture

through studying idioms and in turn get better understanding of idioms by learning the

cultural background behind them.

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REFERENCES

Bashforth, Retrieved December 8, 2010 from

http://www.csun.edu/~bashforth/098_PDF/06Sep15Connotation_Denotation.pdf

Brooks, H.F. 1968. Culture and Language Learning {M}. New York Brace and World
Harcourt

Essayair, Cultural Connotations in English Idiom, Retrieved December 8,2010 from

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5146cd600100l1wo.html

Kramsch, C. (1998). Language and Culture. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.Kress

Scribd, Retrieved December 8, 2010 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/30256867/English-

Culture-in-English-Class