Theory of Translation 1 Introduction

2.13.3.3 Language, Thought / Reality and Culture
Language by its very nature is a social activity. Culture is, according to Ward 
Goodenough, “socially acquired knowledge” in both of its senses of “know-that” and 
“know-how” (qtd. in Hudson, 74). He states that concepts are general categories in 
terms of which propositions, e.g. statements, are formulated and experience is 
processed. 
Analyzing the relationship between language and culture, Malinowski focuses on the 
study of culture as a system. The study leads him to conclude that “linguistic 
behaviour could be interpreted in its social context” (p. 40). He claims that “all 
aspects of culture are interconnected” – which is the most prevalent idea in cultural 
linguistics. Language is, thus, part and product of culture. So, the socio-cultural 
context of situation has to be taken into account. Grimshaw represents the reciprocal 
nature of the relationship between language and reality in a diagram (110) as shown in 
the figure: 
Language 
Thought/Reality Creates 
Creates 
Creates Thought/ Reality
Culture 
Thus, language has to be investigated within the social context of the community. In 
the same way, literature, which is manifested through language, can only be 
understood by relating it with culture and society. It is improper to assert 
independence of literature or art and separate it from its context. Interpretation of a 

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piece of literature or any imaginative art outside its socio-cultural context leads to a 
partial understanding of the process of literary creation. It is necessary to have a clear 
understanding of the dynamics of social context in order to fully comprehend and 
appreciate a literary text. 
Culture, like human languages, is an ever-changing phenomenon. Linguistic changes 
take place in response to cultural changes. If the culture of the society is dynamic, 
linguistic changes are rapid. Cultural changes necessitate lexical additions through 
various processes like coinage of new terms, borrowings and neologisms. Cultural 
change is often reflected in lexis of a language in formation of compounds and similar 
derivatives. Obviously, there is an intimate relationship between language and culture. 
Language becomes a complex cultural phenomenon through transmission of customs 
and traditions from generation to generation. Consequently, this complexity is 
reflected in language use.