A Person Can Never Understand The Culture Of a Country Unless They Speak The Language – IELTS Writing Task 2

Some people think that a person can never understand the culture of a country unless they speak the language. Do you agree with this opinion?

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion Essay (Agree or Disagree)

Introduction

Sentences 1, 2, & 3: Introduce the topic.

Sentence 4 – I disagree with the fact that learning the language is indispensable to understanding the culture.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1- Different other components of the culture helps in understanding it.

Paragraph 2 – Apps helps to translate language

Conclusion

Sum up and state the final opinion.

Sample Essay

It is indubitable that language, in any form, is the only way in which people can express their feelings and share ideas among themselves. There are a variety of languages in the world, and each of them standout as they are exclusive to the culture that they belong to. As a result, many people have this idea that if a person cannot the language, he/she be unable to understand the convention of the society in which it is used. But I feel that it is not totally true.

Language is just a part of the whole, and if we understand the other elements, the tradition can still be apprehended. Food, dress, significant celebrations and customs proclaim the way the mores of the country have evolved. For example, one may not be adept in Hindi, Bengali, Kannada or Gujarati to comprehend that Indian culture is a colourful motley of observance of life and gratification. One can taste the spicy food of the mountains to infer that it is to cope with the low temperature, one can wear the heavy attire of the desert to deduce that it is worn to protect the skin from high temperature, and one can also participate in the numerous festivals like Holi, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja and others to make out that people in different parts of the country share their preference to live a vibrant life.

When it comes to figuring out the literature of the country, it may seem to be a challenge. But, with globalization, many ways have been developed to fix the language barrier. To get the hang of different cultures and their language, even without being a part of it, people have known to use translation as the most important weapon. Earlier, many native people were assigned specially for this job. Now, with the advancement of technology, one can use apps like Google Translate, iTranslate, TripLingo and many more. Visual symbols, for example, movies and road signs, have also been deemed favorable.

Nonetheless, not understanding a language has its own disadvantages. Connecting with locals becomes difficult as they are aware of your lack of knowledge and treat you like an outsider. This may lead to fraud and deception. Fortunately, many organizations like ThomasCook, Airbnb, and others, along with the government of the countries, had made travelling safer and easier.

Thus, with all facilities that have been established and efforts made, I conclude that the language barrier is no more a serious issue to hinder one from perceiving the culture of other countries.

Vocabulary

• Indubitable

Meaning: something that is true without question or that is absolutely true beyond doubt
Eg: His decisions on the matter of security were indubitable.

• Standout

Meaning: a person or thing that is much better than the other people or things involved in something
Eg: Her voice is a standout.

• Convention

Meaning: a way of behaving that is considered to be correct or polite by most people in a society
Eg: “Do you follow all the conventions of your society?”

• Apprehend (Past Tense – Apprehended)

Meaning:  understand something
Eg: The manager apprehends the way the workers work.

• Mores

Meaning: the traditional customs and ways of behaving that are typical of a particular society
Eg: “Are you trying to revolt against the mores of our society?”

• Adept

Meaning: having a natural ability to do something that needs skill
Eg: My grandmother is adept at making pickles.

• Motley

Meaning: consisting of many different types
Eg: The joker has a jacket which is a motley of colours.

• Gratification

Meaning: the state of being pleased or satisfied
Eg: Our gang always finds their gratification in awesome food.

• Attire

Meaning: clothes, especially of a particular or formal type
Eg: His whole attire is ruined by the rain.

• Get the hang of

Meaning: to learn the skills that are needed to do (something)
Eg: You should get a hang of the task before moving to the next level.

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