1. What role does language play in culture?
Language is one of the most important aspect of one’s culture. With language, we can connect with our own communities and interact with it. Interaction using our languages help build important relationships and further better our knowledge with our native language. As a Filipino, I speak my language whenever I see other Filipino people. Language is also vital in my family because we speak the language at home. Just like the First Nation teens who grew without knowing their Native language, I too suffered the same fate. There are about 150-180 dialects in the Philippines, but I only know the major language. My parents also do not know their provincial dialect, so I did not learn any other Filipino dialects other than Tagalog. As a result, I have zero knowledge about my provincial culture as my worldview is modernized. I believe language serves as a treasure box of culture. This is because with language, we can pass down stories to younger people which then younger people will pass down to the future generations. Learning a language of a different nation, such as First Nations, helps us to see their worldview and relate with it.
2. What do Elders and others in this section’s RCAP reading, pages 100-133, say about the role both Elders and Language play in culture?
Elders embodies as the bridge between the people and the spiritual world. They teach us the Creation stories, which are stories about the world and the culture. They are known for their wisdom, experience and knowledge and they play the role of sharing these gifts to get people to understand their culture better. Elders are known for their knowledge about their culture because they “live the culture” (RCAP). In terms of language, Elders are able to keep the culture by teaching the oral tradition, as language “captures our perception of the world around us and how we relate to the world” (RCAP). Language helps Elders to interpret the true meaning of culture. As the English language is great for understanding, it is not enough for us to understand the true meaning of words when it comes from its Native language. An example of this is the Mi’kmaq language basically “operates from the basis of verbs, and verbs are complicated by all of the other elements around them which show relationships” (RCAP). As we can tell verbs are very important part of Mi’kmaq language to be able to fully understand their worldview/perspective. In contrary, modern languages such as French and English are “noun-based,” meaning it “fail to capture the essence of the Aboriginal way of seeing the world” (RCAP). Elders protect their culture by embracing the language, as “they know the precision of usage” (RCAP). Overall, Elders and languages work together to preserve Indigenous culture by speaking the language and teaching the language for those who wish to learn. Elders are individuals who can encourage young people to be proud of their culture and their language.