Is language a part of culture or is it race? Was I misinformed during my debate?

Question

I have been in an argument with someone over language debates in Canada. I stated that you can disagree with government language policies (concerning English and French) but that you could not call someone a racist for disagreeing on language policies. I felt that although language is a part of culture it is not a definition of ethnicity. This person felt that verbal attacks against a person who spoke French or English, were acts of racism (she was verbally attacked for being English by individuals of the same race as her). I feel that they are acts of discrimination and prejudice but not racism.

I feel like if you equate language issues with racial issues...it can make racial issues seem less important to the general population.

I don't mean to offend anyone...I just feel like when someone disagrees on language...they are suddenly called racist. I think when your first line of defence is that...then you shut down the debate.

*I do think language is a very important cultural feature and that the language of others should be respected. I do understand that someone can use language as a means to make fun of someones race.*

Answer 1

Many things go into forming a culture; Ethnicity, religion, geography, as well as language and race (this list is by no means exclusive of the myriad factors that make up a culture).



So yes, policies that exclude certain languages are discriminatory and can easily be perceived as racist, even if unintended.

Answer 2

If someone is gratuitously rude to you, does it really matter whether their motivation is raciist, cultural, sexist, homophobic or just a desire to be nasty? Once in South America I was unpleasantly treated because, speaking an English accented Spanish, I was assumed to be American. Once they found I was a Brit, they apologised and wanted to tell me all the anti-American jokes they knew. It would have been so much nicer had they never been rude in the first place, and even had I been American, I do not see why I should have been held responsible for all the faults of 200 years of US foreign policy!

Answer 3

if a man was winking, blowing kisses, and posing for the camera he would be called gay. But if she does it, she is a maverick. Palin learned how to master body language as a model and sports broadcaster. Its like having a hot chick posing in front of a crappy car, eventually you dont care about the car.

Answer 4

since everyone is of the same race - the human race - everyone originated from the Great Rift Valley in Africa - I don't see how you can make fun of them for being human, through language - language is part of being human.

weird.

go and read some genetics.