A History of Anglo-American Relations, Essay Example

Researchers have found that language has the ability to influence the way that speakers perceive the world (Boroditsky 64). Ultimately, language is tied closely into the culture from which it derives, so these aspects are related to culture as well as language. In particular, it appears that countries that share a language tend to be closer allies than those who do not. While Saudi Arabia and the United States are considered allies for political purposes, it does not appear that either society truly understands one another (Grayson) due to a difference in language. For example, there are few words in common between these languages so it is challenging to even have brief conversations between people who speak Arabic and English. This is not true for countries like the United States and England, which appear to be close because they are able to share a language and therefore a greater extent of cultural phenomena (Allen). A similar case is true between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan (Lacey 294).

In addition, studies have shown that language can impact the spending habits of people (Chen, 2012). This is related to the structure of the language and the tendency for people who use certain words more frequently to reflect upon them to a greater extent. According to Chen, languages that focus less on liming are more likely to save money. As a result, Arabic speakers are more likely to save money than English speakers.

Overall, it appears that countries that speak the same primary language have the ability to influence one another and remain close as a consequence of this shared language and culture bond. These factors cause different populations to have access to different information, which may alter their world view. While it is important for people to form objective opinions despite the influence of their cultures, it is clear that culture is an important factor in determining what the opinions of its people will be.

Works Cited

Allen; H. C. Great Britain and the United States: A History of Anglo-American Relations, 1783–1952. 1954.

Boroditsky L. How Language Shapes Thought. 2011. Web. 12 May 2015. <http://psych.stanford.edu/~lera/papers/sci-am-2011.pdf>

Grayson, Benson Lee. Saudi-American relations. University Press of America, 1982.

Lacey, Robert. Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia. Viking, 2009.