ESCULTURA - SSEd 4

Lesson 04
GEOGRAPHY OF CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND RELIGION:

HOW LANGUAGE DISPERSE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD?
What will you learn?
This is the second part of the Geography of Language. Specifically, in this

lesson, you will be able to describe how different languages dispersed throughout the world and
what factors were able to influence the participation of an individual in language dissemination.
Let’s read!
Given that the continents are separated by boundaries and culture, it is inevitable for
people to have and acquire the heterogeneous language they use in everyday life. Both verbal
and non-verbal language are fundamental for people to choose whatever works for them to
express and communicate their thoughts audibly.
Some people conduct their social lives using only one language while many rely on two or more
languages to participate effectively in a community. Which one are you? How many languages
do you know and how many of them do you use in everyday life?
In choosing a specific language to use, it can be compared to choosing what footwear to use in
school and a party, or what outfit to wear when on a beach or in a church. People may consider
the following:
1. Language X can be too hard to learn, too boring, or not useful in a particular community.
2. Language Y might be a help to make friends, to get ahead, or to ace a job.
Individuals manifest specific views regarding language. From the given above, people will prefer
to use the language y for the reason that it is convenient to use and more useful than the other.
How did people even end up speaking different languages throughout space? Have you ever
heard about the Tower of Babel? It is in the Bible. There was a popular assumption that
languages were or became diversified. The Amorites or Babylonians or those who lived in
Babylon were once religious people they were too eager to be with the Almighty God. They built
a tower intending to reach heaven, however, it did not please God so he decided to destroy it.
The tower was not the only thing destroyed but also the people’s tongues. Right after the Tower
of Babel was wrecked, the Babylonians ended up speaking a greatly diversified language. From
that unexpected event, people chose to find who spoke the same or almost like them. People
became separated and here we are today.
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However, here are some study-based theories that seek to explain the existence of thousands
of languages around the world.
a. Language Divergence
One language is divided into many variations.
b. Language Convergence
When two isolated languages interact with one another and lead to a new language
c. Language Replacement
Modifications of supplanting of a language by stronger cultures and society
To dig deeper, language is disseminated through diffusion. The following are the classifications
of language diffusion.
1. Relocation Diffusion
Language emerged as people traveled through space. It can be through
migration and travel routes.
Migration – people became isolated from one another, adopting different ways of living,
affecting the tones, articulation, and pronunciation.
Travel routes – language is transmitted by people moving from one place to another to
conduct personal agendas or businesses.
2. Hierarchal Diffusion
People may be compelled to adopt a dominant language for social, political, or
economic mobility.
Colonialism – wherein people were obliged to follow the rules and ways of the
colonizers. For instance, under the Spaniards for 330 years the Philippines was able to adopt
from the Spanish language by force or naturally.
Education – the language used in a particular education curriculum. Recently, the
usage of Mother Tongue in Kindergarten to 3 rd Grade will be discontinued with reference to the
Republic Act 12027, s. 2024.
3. Contagious Diffusion
Exemplified the spread of new slang within a community or group as people
mimic each other’s speech.
Social Media – foreign terms are being disseminated on social media reaching the
people all around the world.
Generational dynamics – in every generations there are numerous words or language
being discovered that creates a gap between people from different generation particularly in
interpretation.
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Trends and Globalization – through the trends and globalization the language usage
around the world seems to have a huge similarities that caters a possible effective
communication between people throughout the world.
Based from the discussion, language dissemination may vary from countries, societies, and
individuals. The following are the factors that influence the ability of an individual to participate in
language dissemination.
Literacy Technology Political Organization
The level of literacy varies Enable the production of Influences in establishing

dramatically between and various means of language policies. Limitations
even within countries. communication along with and boundaries in interaction
the level of interaction of with neighboring countries.
people within a distance.
In conclusion, languages around the world were disseminated through language

diffusion which is classified into three; relocation diffusion, hierarchal diffusion, and contagious
diffusion. How languages are dispersed throughout the world is influenced by various individual
factors such as literacy, technological advancements, and political organizations that play a
pivotal role in language distribution.
Prepared by:
ESCULTURA, ABIGAIL B.
References:
The Origin and Diffusion of World Languages. Cultural Geography. https://www.google.com/url?

sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.wlwv.k12.or.us/cms/lib/
OR01001812/Centricity/Domain/1325/
Language.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjSwIqjj_yIAxWalFYBHYjRMHwQFnoECAYQBQ&usg=AO
vVaw23wE7TIQR4wHRUGP_CvMsn
Geography of World Languages (2019).

https://open.library.okstate.edu/culturalgeography/chapter/geography-of-languages/
Jones, R., (2020). International Encyclopedia of Human Geography. (Second Edition).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/language-geography
Ramirez (2018). Introduction to Human Geography. University System of Georgia.
https://web.ung.edu/media/university-press/human-geography.pdf
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Lesson 04

GEOGRAPHY OF CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND RELIGION:

What will you learn?

This is the second part of the Geography of Language. Specifically, in this

Literacy Technology Political Organization

The level of literacy varies Enable the production of Influences in establishing

In conclusion, languages around the world were disseminated through language

The Origin and Diffusion of World Languages. Cultural Geography. https://www.google.com/url?

Geography of World Languages (2019).

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