Changes in the Vocabulary as Reflection of the Cultural Change

Vocabulary is a very sensitive index of the culture of a people

Edward Sapir.

Language is a complex phenomenon which reflects not only individual thinking processes, but also global cultural tendencies and changes. Language  is a code which helps people  denote and  systemize things, objects and phenomena around them. Language is a kind of operational system or mediator which links thinking and cognitive processes with the external world.  In addition, language becomes not only a reflection of different kinds of mentalities, but also becomes that factor which influences and even forms this mentalities.  There is  a connection between structure, vocabulary, phonetics and semantics of different language and mentality and outlook of those who use this language.  “Language mirrors reality and it is both a medium and a signifier of human interaction. There is a tight interdependence between the life of a community and the language this community speaks. It is especially the vocabulary of a language that is seen as a reflection of, or the so called “culture sensor” of customs, traditions, values and ways of thinking typical of particular communities and their cultures” (Witalisz 1).   The structure of the language can be a reflection of general structure of mental and cognitive processes. This way, changes in the form, structure and content of the language can give information in changes of outlook, attitudes and cultural  values in the society.  

Major tendencies of the contemporary use of English language have several important characteristics. The language tends to simplification. People use simpler phrases, shorter words, simpler sentences structure. People often use short sentences, shortened words and other means to make communication shorter and simpler. This tendency has several explanations. The era of globalization and rapid development of technological advances gave people more opportunities for communication. At the same time, people became lack of time and this requires them to shorten and simplify their messages. This tendency reflects changes in values system. People put less meaning in what they say. They want to reach their communicative goals as quickly as possible and care less about the quality of communication. These changes can be explained by the changes in value system.

Globalization is another important characteristics of the contemporary language structure. This tendency is common not only for English language. A lot of words travel from one language to another, there emerges a lot of common terms and expressions, which sound the same in different languages. This tendency can be explained by globalization. “Traditional language studies have used the term „internationalism‟ for vocabulary shared by a number of different languages. Internationalisms are defined as language elements, usually of Greek or Latin origin, used in at least three different language groups within the Indo-European language family (Maćkiewicz, 1993), e.g. president, culture, politics, bank, analysis, planet, film, diet, doctor, etc., which appear in most European languages» (Witalisz 2).  In addition, it is possible to explore spheres, where globalization has extremely strong influence. This can be done through analyzing the number of common or international words in different spheres.

It is important to trace the reason of changes in language structure and cultural paradigm. There are definitely different reasons which resulted in these changes, but still, it is possible to name the most important ones.  Baudrillard in his outstanding philosophical treatise Simulacra and Simulation explores relations between the meaning, sings and reality. He explores the loss of contact between the reality and different symbolic systems which represent this reality.  As Buadrillard points out, contemporary postmodern culture became significantly distanced from reality. It operates with maps and symbols, which have no connection to real objects. When describing postmodern culture he states, “It is no longer a question of imitation, nor duplication, nor even parody. It is a question of substituting the signs of the real for the real” (Baudrillard 2).  Baudrillard does not state that contemporary culture is artificial. He rather states that his culture cannot even distinguish between real and artificial objects. He gives different example to illustrate the gap between the contemporary culture and reality. According to him, contemporary mass media do not represent reality, but rather present their interpretations of this reality.  Mass media are not interested in representing true reality, but create a stimulation which describes reality they want to show.  Contemporary TV, movies, different shows and the Internet create new reality and present it to people. Media production creates alternative reality. In this reality they create  concepts  and ideas, which are later acquired by people. For example, people nowadays are guided not by their real desires, but rather by desires and emotions suggested by the contemporary media. Commercial images make main driving motives for people, and they forget about their true needs and desires and try to make true artificial needs from TV, radio and Internet commercials and advertisements.

The second sign of lost connection with reality is a change in value  system. In contrast to the past, when the price of goods was estimated according to the effort and resources necessary for their production, nowadays the cost of the objects is determined by its  worth. This shift became another step which distanced people from reality. Things nowadays are measured not by their material value, but rather by their symbolic cost. For example, one and the same dress produced from one and the same material will cost differently if it is produced by famous fashion brand.

Changes in productive means also make input into the loss of connection with reality. People lose  connections with things they use and consume. Complicated technologies and great scope  of production make people totally unfamiliar with origin of things they use. People nowadays have no idea how things they use every day are produced. They know neither materials, no technologies of production. In many cases these things are produced not in their native countries.   This  contributes to changes in mentality and separates them from reality (Baudrillard 2006).  Baudrellard states that capitalism has significantly contributed to these changes. Mass production and globalization gradually destroyed links between produces and consumers. People who produce goods do not know for whom they produce their goods. And people who buy goods are not aware of those, who have produced them. Globalization of production impacts globalization of vocabulary. Along with the popularization of English language all over the world,   the number of international words, which cross the boundaries of the states and local cultures, grows.

 Another reason named by Baudrillard is urbanization. Major part of the contemporary population prefers to live in the cities. Such way of life makes people lose connection with nature. It is also notable that urban reality presents a new form of reality, with new sings of distinction, new culture and new vocabulary.  Urban vocabulary became a new cultural phenomenon, which needs special study. General study performed by Elizabeth showed that there is a distinctive difference in rural and urban vocabulary. As the author points out: “Therefore the null hypothesis that there would be no significant difference between urban and rural children in their English vocabulary score was rejected” (Elizabeth 120). There are a lot of possible reasons of this phenomenon. Elizabeth states that: “It may be that the urban students have better opportunity to learn English vocabulary. The reason for this high achievement may be that they have educated parents, televisions, films and more scope to get into contact with English speaking society” (Elizabeth 120).  This way, urban life makes a strong impact on the language and vocabulary development. From the one hand urban children live disconnected from nature. From the other hand they have better learning opportunities and broader outlook. Since most part of the population dwells in the cities, it is possible to speak about major cultural shift, which distinguishes shifts in language and vocabulary.

 Baudrillard names another factor which influences distancing from reality. Language and ideology according to him prevent people from accessing true reality.  The main function of ideology is ruling people. This goal is often reach through lies and manipulation. This means that ideology uses different persuasive means in order to change and transform the reality. Baudrillard states that ideology creates “false consciousness”. This consciousness influences peoples’ perception through language structures and vocabulary. This means that ideology also has an important impact on the contemporary language and culture. “The conjunction of the system and its extreme alternative like two ends of a curved mirror, the “vicious” curvature of a political space henceforth magnetized, circularized, reversibilized from right to lek a torsion that is like the evil demon of commutation, the whole system, the infinity of capital folded back over its own surfce: transfinite? And isn’t it the same with desire and libidinal space? The conjunction of desire and value, of desire and capital (Baudrillard 18). Any ideology assumes creating a certain false reality. This reality has different attributes of the reality, including the system of sings and messages. This system assumes special vocabulary and new senses.

Pop culture and pop production became another significant sources of impact on the contemporary culture and thus on the language. So called “pop stars” determine fashion, cultural norms and language structures, which become popular in the society. Derek Thompson in his article  The Shazam Effect investigates contemporary pop music. The author points out that the audience to great extend determines the content of the contemporary popular culture. At the same time, this choice is limited by old patterns. As he states: “Everyone I spoke with about the Hot 100—label and radio executives, industry analysts, and other journalists—agreed with Jay Frank’s assessment that consumers have more say than they did decades ago, when their tastes were shaped by the hit makers at labels. But here’s the catch: if you give people too much say, they will ask for the same familiar sounds on an endless loop, entrenching music that is repetitive, derivative, and relentlessly played out” (Thompson 69).  The audience gets more freedom in the choice of popular media figures, but finally the choice is predetermined by the existing themes and ideas. This conclusion investigates that contemporary people have no  desire to create new content in different spheres, including pop art. This tendency is also reflected in the contemporary language use. People show tendency to simplification and generalization. This is illustrated in the choice of art products, expressive means and language structures.

American culture, same as world culture, is in constant change and transformation. These changes are reflected in the language structures, vocabulary and semantics.  English languages used in everyday speech is changed and these changes reflect changes in the mentality of people. Contemporary language shows a tendency to simplification and globalization. Changes in sematic structure show global shifts in the mentality. New senses applied in the contemporary society are reflected in the language and language analyses can help  understand mentality and value system.

Works Cited

Thompson, Derek ,   The Shazam Effect,  The Atlantic Monthly; Dec 2014; 314, 5.

Baudrillard,  Jean Simulacra and Simulation, The University of Mtichigan Press, 2006.

 Sapir, E., Selected Writings in Language, Culture and Personality, ed. D. Mandelbaum, Berkeley, 1949.

Elizabeth, M. Acquisition of English Vocabulary, Discovery Publishing House,  2006.

Witalisz Alicja, Linguistic Globalization as a Reflection of Cultural Changes, Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of the Global Awareness Society International, Krakow, Poland, May 2011.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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