The role of language and culture in conceptualization of climate change

Abstract

Climate change communication often occurs in multicultural settings using certain common lingua francas to reach the wide diversity of the linguistic groups that inhabit the globe. The effectiveness of these languages is subject to the diverse cultural contexts of those involved. Different cultural contexts could give rise to various conceptualisations of climate change-related phenomena and, hence, different responses to this pressing global issue. This could have implications for the success of the efforts to grapple with the problems arising from climate change. The paper ponders the question: How do culturally situated meanings of climate factors affect the supposed common understanding of climate change concerns? It reviews literature on culture and communication and samples adages from six languages spoken in Africa and the West. The paper applies insights from the Neo-Whorfian hypothesis to examine the communication barriers in cross-cultural communication. The analysis of the sayings reveals multiple opposing culture-based values on climate issues. This leads to the conclusion that the great diversity of the cultural groups involved, as well as their unique viewpoints on climate causes, pose a substantial obstacle to communication about climate change. This militates against the development of a common understanding of the climate change problem and the quest for solutions. It recommends that culture-specific values and intercultural training be taken into account if a truly common understanding of the climate change phenomenon and its solutions is to be developed.