Global Connectivity and the Limits of Travel

Over a century ago, American’s took to the skies. Now, thousands of air buses cross oceans and continents, connecting cultures that might never have communication otherwise. However, only a third of the American population travels abroad (Tourism Analytics), and, while cross cultural communication and understanding has increased through travel, it is possible to grow those skills without traveling to a different country. I have experienced this firsthand, studying languages and reading texts outside of my own cultural tradition. By learning a second language, students can be exposed to different cultures without leaving their own country, broadening their perspectives and world view. The study of applied linguistics (language theory in real world scenarios and contexts) uses a variation of aspects, including cultural context and language socialization to observe and study the use of language and, by proxy, the language’s specific culture (Simpson 22).

The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and Cultural Understanding 

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (the theory that culture is directly linked to language formation and acquisition) is fairly new, only taken seriously in the mid-20th century (Kramsch 462); however, as mass cross-cultural communication grew, especially after the Dot-com Bubble, so did the importance of cultural context in applied linguistics: “[With] the global spread of information technologies and global migrations, culture has lost much of its national moorings … [Now to] understand culture, one [has] to understand both the universal and the culture specific constraints on language use in discourse” (Kramsch 462-63). It becomes even more important to understand the context of language, as we strive to understand other people and widen our world view; therefore, we must strive to understand the culture and tradition that has shaped society up to this point. By learning a second language, people can tap further into deeper meaning and different perspectives to further understand how to move in an ever-changing world. 

Language Socialization and Cultural Values

Different languages hold important socio-cultural values that are used to teach the language learner about culture. Language socialization, while similar to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, focuses on the individual’s relationship to language and culture, instead of the group’s relationship. Language socialization maintains that people learn how to interact socially through language acquisition, while this idea is mainly focused on children learning their mother tongue, it can also apply to second-language learners: “the knowledge of a language includes a set of norms, preferences, and expectations relating linguistic structures to context [culture]” (He 442). For example, we can look at two language students, one learning Spanish the other Japanese. In the course of their studies, they will learn how to greet and address people. The Spanish greeting will naturally be more casual and friendly, whereas the Japanese greeting will be more formal and respectful. Both of these greetings reflect the different priorities of each culture, as well as the social hierarchies. By learning a second language, these students can experience different aspects of their target language’s culture without leaving the classroom. 

Applied Linguistics as a Gateway to Cultural Experience

Applied linguistics might not be the first or most obvious steps for learning about other cultures. However, for students who do not have access to world travel, it can be a valuable substitute. The natural cultural context and socialization of learning a second language broadens perspectives and worldviews. Personally, I found using applied linguistics extremely helpful when living in Japan for two months. Before arriving in the country, I spent as much time as possible practicing basic Japanese and took weekly Japanese lessons while in Japan. While I had unlimited access to translation apps to communicate with people, learning Japanese helped me ease into the new culture with fewer cultural blunders and less culture shock. I was able to learn about and partially experience Japanese culture, before visiting the country. Learning a second language has more value than simple communication; it is access to an entirely new culture, tradition, and history.

Works Cited 

He, Agnes Weiyun. “Language socialization.” The Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics, edited by James Simpson, Taylor & Francis Group, 2011, pp. 438-59. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/regentebooks/edtail.action?docID=574657. 

Kramsch, Claire. “Language and culture.” The Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics, edited by James Simpson, Taylor & Francis Group, 2011, pp. 461-80. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/regentebooks/detal.action?docID=574657. 

Simpson, James. “Introduction: applied linguistics in the contemporary world.” The Routledge

Handbook of Applied Linguistics, edited by James Simpson, Taylor & Francis Group, 2011, pp. 22-32. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/regentebooks/detail.action?docID=574657. 

“US Residents Outbound.” Tourism Analytics, https://tourismanalytics.com/usoutbound.html,

2025. Accessed 30 March 2026.