part 1 – prompts and detailed instructions

Prompt:

How can the relationship between language and culture affect writing at both paragraph and whole text level?

• What effects has this had on your own writing and will you make any changes in your writing practices in the future?
• Illustrate your response drawing on content from both the last 2 week’s readings and also your own experience writing in your home country vs here in Australia.

Instructions:

Step 1: Download this file, and then in the space provided in PART 2 on the next page, write a reflective journal entry response that addresses all aspects of the above prompt. The journal entry should be a minimum of 250 words and a maximum 450 words.

Step 2: Submit this file (containing your draft response) to the Turnitin link provided in Module 9 by Friday 5 pm in the week of Module 9. You will be provided with feedback and comments (but no grade) on your response.

Step 3: Use this feedback, along with advice from the international tutor, to revise and improve your journal entry.

Step 4: Submit this file (containing the updated version of your response) to the Turnitin link provided in Module 10 by Friday 5 pm in the week of Module 10 to receive a grade.

Schedule (please check the Subject Outline document to confirm the week and date of each module):

part 2 – your reflective response to the prompts

In the space below, please write your reflective response to the prompt on the previous page in PART 1. Please ensure your response is a minimum of 250 words and a maximum 450 words.

Exploring the intricate connection between language and culture is a journey into the core of effective writing. The interplay between these two elements influences not only individual paragraphs but the entirety of a written work. At the paragraph level, language, and culture Mold the way ideas are conveyed and understood. Language, being a product of culture, carries within it the subtleties, idioms, and nuances deeply embedded in a specific cultural framework. These subtleties can sway the tone, connotation, and overall impact of a paragraph. For example, the selection of words and idiomatic expressions can convey either familiarity or formality, depending on the cultural norms attached to them. In my own writing, I have noticed how language and culture affect how I structure paragraphs. While writing in my home country, I often found myself using references and idioms that resonated with local readers but might have left an international audience perplexed or alienated. This experience underscores the importance of considering the cultural background of my readers and adapting my writing accordingly. Zooming out to the level of the entire text, language and culture have an even deeper influence. The cultural context shapes the overall structure, organization, and even the purpose of a text. Different cultures have distinct conventions for organizing information and presenting arguments. A text’s cultural context can dictate whether it follows a linear or circular argumentative structure, whether it prioritizes individualism or collectivism, and whether it employs explicit or implicit communication styles.

In my writing, especially when transitioning to the Australian academic environment, I encountered challenges related to the cultural expectations of text structure and argumentation. Academic writing norms in Australia contrast with those in my native country, prompting a need for me to adapt my writing style to conform to the cultural standards of my current academic community. The impact of the interplay between language and culture on my writing has manifested in two distinct ways. On one hand, it has enhanced my writing by introducing a wealth of cultural diversity and diverse viewpoints. Conversely, it has posed difficulties in guaranteeing lucidity and enabling audience understanding. In the future, I aspire to embrace a heightened awareness of the cultural backdrop influencing my writing and to meticulously assess the anticipations and prerequisites of my readers. My objective is to delicately harmonize the preservation of cultural intricacies intrinsic to my language with the refinement of my writing to be all-embracing and easily graspable for a wider array of readers, especially within academic and professional contexts. Top of Form

This may involve providing explanations for culture-specific references or using a more universally understood language when appropriate. As I continue to develop as a writer, my aim is to leverage the strengths of this relationship while ensuring that my writing resonates with diverse audiences, transcending cultural boundaries.

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