This places the student in an environment where they must learn another language and culture (p. 1). Being faced with the task of taking on another language is very daunting for some. .
The way that language is used can have an effect on how the message is received. According to Emmitt & Pollock (1993), an individual uses language for a whole range of different purposes and sometimes the message received is not always the message sent. Knowledge is transmitted through social contexts, through relationships, like that of parent and child, teacher and student or between classmates. Language is part of a culture. What the language is and how it is used depends on the culture (p. 6). Therefore language is both personal and culturally dependent.
All countries are becoming cultural smorgasbords. With migration on the rise intercultural communication is inevitable. According to Dahl (1998, IRE3), a symbolic-abstract language is the dominant sign of any culture. He goes on to suggest that the difference in languages is not a difference in sounds and signs, but a difference in worldviews (p. 4/10). With this intermingling of so many different cultures there is bound to be global impact. Brislin (1981) predicts that in day-to-day living in various parts of the world there will be a greater amount of face-to-face contact among people of very different cultural backgrounds (p. 1). Cultural differences will increase dramatically and communication problems will be widespread. .
An example of this abstract point about a cultures influence on peoples beliefs relate to what is considered proper when dining. Let us look at Asia and America. According to Brislin (1981), people from many Asian countries who dine at another family's home leave after the last dish is served. To avoid doing so would indicate that the person was still hungry, whereas to leave straight after the last dish has been served in America would offend as they would immediately think that their guest wants them for their food and not their company (p.
