It is a very obvious point that Language is the basis to which we, as human beings, can stand to

intermingle with each other since the beginning of time. Yet, at the same time, language stands to be
the same item that prevents this sort of intermingling or otherwise understanding of each other,
providing to be a barrier between anything and anything of different cultures and backgrounds. In this
paper bibliography, Im going to be focusing more on that of language as a barrier between
communications.
Mcgraw-hills textbook
1
provides a good basic example of how language can be an enhancement
or an obstacle to communication. In the textbook itself, it uses examples such as grammatical errors
or differences within translations or languages themselves, regionalism, and Informal variations of
a language as examples of how language in itself can provide to be an obstacle to communication. Since
this source is an actual literary textbook, I can assume that it is aimed at students or even people of all
ages, races, and social groups with the intent to teach about the aspect of language.
The Mcgraw-hill source in itself is important to me and my own writing because, while granted it
doesnt go into extreme detail or goes far beyond that of just a basic covering and explaining of
language as an obstacle (starting on pg. 64), it is simply because this is basic that it will be very useful. I
can see this source becoming important because I can use it to start my major paper, providing a firm
basis within the introduction and introducing my subject matter in an academic way yet at the same
time making it available to be understood by outside readers. Thereby, I can see this source become one
of the most important sources that I can draw on simply because of its generalization and simplicity as a
basis, rather than other sources that would be more specific or worded slightly more complicated.

1
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0073406805/825671/Pearson4e_ch03.pdf
Another source (which is listed in the endnotes below)
2
draws upon the information of the first
source and provides more specific details to explain how exactly language can work as a barrier to
communication between people of different cultures and backgrounds, specifically between that of
Japan and English from North America. While the source focuses more on the aspect of globalization
instead of language as an obstacle, it still provides a good example within the section Confrontational
and aggressive approach. In this example, the source compares the term (kireru), which is so
frequently used to describe sudden emotional rage, which is seen more frequently in North
Americathe values of being indirect, less confrontational, and modest are seriously challenged. You
can see within this example the fact that the very aspect of language, especially underneath the actual
surface of language itself, provides a sort of misunderstanding or differencing interpretations of the
language, which in itself is one of these before mentioned barriers to communication via language
between different cultures and backgrounds.
The final source that I found this time around involves language as a barrier between
communication because it is a medium that ignores culture and backgrounds in itself, utilizing the
example of Korean/Chinese students within Japan
3
. In this source itself, the focus on the sort of
inferiority complex or otherwise between people of different cultures living in foreign countries takes
effect, especially due to language (and differences between that of their home language and the
difficulties of adapting to their new/native countrys language. While, understandable the article is
focused on something else entirely and I can only use certain nit-picked parts of it for my own paper and
research, there are still many great examples that I can use within the source (especially the aspects of
Japan teaching internal education and thus leading to a disconnect when exposed to language from

2
http://buna.arts.yorku.ca/japanese/ejlt/globalization.pdf
3
http://www.hawaii.edu/sls/sls/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/6-Hatori-Reiko.doc
people of a different culture and background) in order to prove my point and argue the fact that
language is a huge barrier for communication between different cultures and backgrounds.
In short, I believe that all the sources that I found will help tremendously with my major paper,
although source three is quite weak in itself and I probably will have to find another source or replace
that source when I begin the work. However, all these sources help to argue my claim that language in
itself is an effective, yet regrettable barrier to communication between people of different cultures and
backgrounds.