How Language Acts as a Barrier to

Multiculturalism

By: Joshua McWhorter

EDUC 255: Multicultural Teaching

02/25/2016

How Language Acts as a Barrier to

Multiculturalism
Verbal, written, and expressive language is
the foundation for human communication
and cultural transmission of values and
ideas (Macionis, 2009); as such, it is
language that often defines who we are
and how we think. It also represents a
barrier to multiculturalism that often slows
or prevents many societies from
successfully integrating into a fully
functional multicultural environment.

Introduction
Hi, my name is Joshua
McWhorter, and today we are
going to be discussing the idea of
multiculturalism and the barriers
created by language. Ahead of us
we have a number of key
concepts and ideas, as well as a
few web links and a short video
that I hope will help everyone
better understand how these
barriers might influence modern
society. Thank you for joining me,
and I look forward to our time
together exploring this complex
and interesting subject.

Introduction
Before we get started, I would
like mention that language as a
barrier to communication is
something I have experienced
in both travel and work. It was
this that got me thinking about
the role language plays in
culture and in the classroom-especially where first
generation student's are
concerned.

To devalue his [her] language, or to presume

Standard English is a better system, is to devalue
the child and his [her] culture and to reveal a
naivete concerning language
-Joan Baratz, 1968

Language and Barriers to a Multicultural United

States
In the United States, today, language is still a widely
debated subject that acts as a barrier to our cooperation
and understanding with other cultural groups coming
into the U.S..
The inability of some members of minority groups to
effectively communicate with the majority population
creates a cultural barrier that prevents both immersion
and adoption of culture on both sides of the subject
often leading to violence and discrimination, as well as
group segregation and an inability for first generation
parents to educate their children about the English
language at home, which further sustains these often
toxic cultural gaps.
This communication barrier also compounds the
education issues that leads to reduced performance for
some minority groups; especially individuals who begin
learning a second language after the age of three in the

Language and Barriers to a Multicultural United

States

Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you

where its people come from and where they are
going.
Rita Mae Brown

Quote provided by: novicelanguageland.wordpress.org

Language and Barriers to a Multicultural United

States
In addition to this, the unwillingness
of some members of the majority
group to learn about other cultures
and languages is a leading cause of
social friction in North America; one,
that in addition to causing violence
and discrimination, helps sustain
socio-economic restrictions and
educational barriers for many first
and second generation groups
coming onto the continent
(macionis, 2009). These elements
can extend into the classroom.

Language and Barriers to a Multicultural United

States

Learning a foreign language not only reveals how

other societies think and feel, what they have
experienced and value, and how they express
themselves, it also provides a cultural mirror in
which we can more clearly see our own society.
Chancellor Edward Lee Gorsuch
Quote provided by: novicelanguageland.wordpress.org

Language and Barriers to a Multicultural United

States
For education professionals, beginning the
process of teaching language and the
elements of language and communication at
as early an age as possible, helps ensure that
any language based educational gaps in the
classroom are kept to a minimum (Owens,
2008).
For communities, making language learning
free and available is one of the best ways to
promote language learning at home, further
reducing language barriers for first and
second generation students in our
classrooms.

Language and Barriers to a Multicultural United

States
In the following link,
dedicated to the
discussion of Spanish
as an official language
in the United States, it
is easy to see how
diverse peoples'
opinion on language is
and how language can
easily act as a barrier
to multiculturalism in
http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-the-united-statesthe United States.
adopt-spanish-as-the-official-language

Language and Culture

Image from: media.npr.org

Video: Language and Culture

In the video link below, people discuss the role of language on
culture and the difficulties of traveling abroad and
communicating effectively with those who speak a different
language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiJ82hAqm4
*Due to the occasional compatibility issue, if the link
doesn't work, it is suggested that you copy and paste the
above URL into a browser to view the video.

Language and Culture

As you can see from the previous video,
language is a very important tool when it
comes to understanding human
interaction and culture.
Even today, with all of our modern
technology, something as simple as a
greeting can be an obstacle to
understanding one another, let alone the
complex daily interactions that are
necessary for us to get through the day.

Language and Culture

According to the Linguistic Society, as
of 2009, there were still 6,909 spoken
languages in the world, today. If you
follow the links provided below, you will
see that language still defines many
cultures and national borders; as well
as influencing the order of words we
use, common phrases, and even
thinking patterns (Gollnick, Chinn,
2009).

Percentage of languages spoken globally.

http://www.linguisticsociety.org/content/how-many-languages-are-there-world
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/courses/Fall_2007/ling001/world_languages.html

Language and Culture

And although language is a complex
and difficult barrier to overcome, it isn't
impossible. Even in ancient times,
language was a huge barrier when it
came to the exchange of ideas, of
engaging in trade, and in traveling
abroad, freely and safely, even more so
than today.
But if you look at all that we have
achieved, it is easy to see that although
language may represent a barrier, it is
one that we can overcome and even
embrace.

Image Source: University of Pennsylvania

Language and the Classroom

For teacher's in the classroom,
including materials and lessons
with multilingual elements
promotes thought and introduces
the concept of language and
culture around the world.
The younger that students are
introduced to such elements, the
better. Student's raised in
multicultural environments tend to
be more open and accepting of
those around them (ACTFL).

Language and the Classroom

For additional ideas and resources on how to include
multicultural and multilingual elements into the classroom,
please feel free to visit the links below.
http://www.howtolearn.com/2014/10/teaching-strategies-for-trans
itioning-in-a-multilingual-educational-environment/
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/infoethics_2/eng/papers/pape
r_9.htm
http://www.ncte.org/cee/positions/diverselearnersinee

Conclusion
Thank you for joining me! As you can see, language
is a complex issue here in the United States and
globally. It is a source of both friction and beauty.
Language is something that defines us as people
and even influences global international borders. It
is an aspect of culture and an aspect in the creation
and spread of cultural ideas. Language is at the
foundation of everything that it means to be human,
as well as a barrier that creates human conflict.
Teaching to overcome these barriers, and learning
about one another, is the greatest thing we can do to
promote positive change and work on building a
successful and truly multicultural society

Sources:
Gollnick, D. M., & Chinn, P. C. (2009). Multicultural education in a pluralistic society. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Merrill.
ACTFL. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2016, from http://www.actfl.org/advocacy/discover-languages/for-parents/cognitive
PSU. (n.d.). Language & Culture. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiJ8-2hAqm4
Linguistics 001 -- Languages of the World. (n.d.). University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from http
://www.ling.upenn.edu/courses/Fall_2007/ling001/world_languages.html
Linguistic Society of America. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2016, from http://www.linguisticsociety.org/content/how-many-languages-arethere-world
20 Quotes for Foreign Language Learners. (2012). Retrieved February 25, 2016,from
https://noviceinlanguageland.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/20-quotes-for-foreign-language-learners/
Macionis, J. J. (2009). Society: The basics (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Owens, R. E. (2008). Language development: An introduction (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Should the United States adopt Spanish as the official language? (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2016, from
http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-the-united-states-adopt-spanish-as-the-official-language