Social Capital and Language

Learning an L2 is important because it gives an individual an opportunity to not only learn the way in which a people communicate but also the chance to understand the culture of the community in which the immigrant lives. Language is the expression of culture and the avenue by which all people advance to social, academic and economic success.

This paper discusses the meaning of learning a new language in cultural and socio-economic terms and why it is so imperative that people have the supports they need to acquire linguistic skills. Culture, Identity, and Language: Uncovering Human and Social Capital As Cok and Novak-Lukanovic (n.d.) point out, language is not just the way we use words to communicate -- it is an expression of the totality of our personhood: our culture, our experience, our identity and our awareness.

When learners do not become proficient in their L2, they lack the ability to identify the culture of the community in which they live and whose language they are meant to learn. They remain isolated, unable to befriend others or to add to their store of social and human capital assets. By not learning the language, they are not only handicapping their ability to communicate with others in their new society, but they are also failing to learn values, the ideals, the culture and the character of their neighbors.

Instead of assimilating, they remain distant and disconnected and this creates problems for them socially, academically and professionally as they are without the supports they need to succeed in these areas. When language learners do not become proficient in their L1 either, they are in an even worse position. They are typically without any recourse to assistance and fail to build relationships at all.

As Hannum and Cerug (2014) note, the failure to succeed in language learning means that one's opportunities to rise socio-economically are a lot less likely to be made possible. So much depends upon language skills and competencies that to not possess them is to basically never grow, develop, mature or advance beyond the stages of a child. Language and culture are inexplicably linked because language is an expression of culture -- it is the primary mode in which culture is communicated.

Without language -- in all its various forms (written, oral, visual) -- the ideals, values, character, history, and beliefs of a people cannot find expression. Thus, language is the outlet through which a culture is delivered (Cok, Novak-Lukanovic, n.d.). This fact affects an immigrant's chances of success in their new land very considerably. An immigrant must learn the L2 in order to be able to assimilate and be welcomed in the new land.

So as to truly join in with the people and their way of life, the immigrant should want to understand and be able to use the people's language. Not doing so can really reduces the immigrant's chances of finding success in the new land. The implications that this has for the individual I have targeted for my case study (Henry) is that unless the L2 is learned, the individual is not going to succeed or have a very bright future.

Not only is he isolated linguistically but his self-confidence, motivation, and ability to make relationships are all negatively impacted by his linguistic problems. Language is the glue that holds people together and to lack that glue means that one person is adrift. He has no way to get back to the shores where the rest of civilization is unless he obtains some assistance.

In Henry's case, he had assistance and supports in his middle school, but he did not obtain enough of the confidence and linguistic skills he needed to maintain his success in high school. He also lost his familiar supports during that transition and as a result.