The Influence of Language as a Barrier in Cultural Development

Heterogeneous language systems hinder culture development via mismatch in communication 

"Features form in the structure of cultural methods rather than elements."What the claim is expected to be conveyed through this sentence might be that forms of interpretation decide the characteristics of the culture. If the same problem is solved by different means, it will have a different structure. In other words, it is the diverse approaches, which different people use to interpret the meaning based on identical elements, that lead to different features.

The first instance came out to me is the mutual misunderstanding caused by different language system. Even though people share the same idea (e.g., a wish: happy birthday), however, they are not able to express it to others.

As a cultural carrier, language makes different sense based on the specific application

If a child turns to the aid of external memorizing means, the whole structure of his process will be determined by the character of the means which he has selected. If the task itself does not suit the natural abilities of the child appropriately, he/she will solve it in a natural/primitive way. It is pretty common when I tried to say something which worked for me to children, they could never understand what I meant. Thus their subsequent behavior did not match my expectations at all. 

For example, I remembered when I was an intern teacher in kindergarten, a boy cried out when he saw his mom left him. His loud sound attracted all people around in the classroom, some children stopped what they did and stared at him. I felt confused about how to comfort him. I picked him up, left the class and said to him, 

"You should be independent and brave. Your mom would not be with you throughout your whole life. There are many things you should do by yourself. Your mother is busy doing her own things..." 

He did not buy what I said to him, but burst out crying. 

In fact, he just felt unsafe when being detached from his caregiver. He was scared of being alone and hisa primitive way responding to the feeling was crying. He didn't reach the stage where he was able to understand what I meant "being independent". To structure this very internal sign from a merely external expression was not feasible for him. The child needs to be biologically able to bear not relying on anyone for a specific period of time, even under a certain condition. Then he would be able to experience a process that he can do something only by himself.