The Intersections of Geography and Language

Introduction 

Humans naturally differ from other creatures, seeing their inclination to create a social framework in every geography, and their greater desire for communication, narration and dialogue with the aim of creating an environment for meaningful connection with their surroundings. Pursuing this aim, language is used as a tool for communication and mutual understanding, making it crucial to the establishment of connections and protecting one from isolation. 

Therefore, since antiquity, philosophers, sages, and intellectuals have greatly pondered the social nature of humans, e.g., Aristotle recognized man as a social animal. Indeed, for any person to be social, they need a place and a geography to live in,  and a language to express, narrate, communicate, exchange ideas, and understand the other. 

In linguistics, language is not solely about vocabulary and expression; rather, the science of language emphasizes the importance of grammar systems, literary aspects, written language, and daily spoken language, distinguishing formal and informal usage.

In this study, we also aim to revisit and refine the conceptual foundations of the relationship between geography and language. From this starting point, we will emphasize the dimensions of language and geography, and later clarify the frameworks of the relationship between the science of language and the science of geography. We will also shed light on the role of geographical features in language and illuminate the concept of the geography of language. Our focus will be directed toward the question of the significance of language geography in the era of globalization.

Language as a tool of Communication in Various Disciplines 

Language is not merely a mechanical process of expression, such as moving certain muscles, producing a few sounds, or articulating some words. Rather, to a great extent, it reflects the level of civilization and the advancement of society. Here, the function of language is to respond to the material and spiritual needs of its speakers and users. This is evident in all the words and dialects that flow through the vast sea of language, day by day or year by year. 

At the individual level, language reflects intellectual and cognitive abilities. Many human attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors can be misunderstood or diminished in meaning if the right and necessary words are not used to express them, leading to a distortion of their content and a failure to fully assert their intended meaning (Shakely, 2009, p. 60). 

Besides, languages that lack political, economic, epistemological, or scientific capabilities cannot seriously contribute to knowledge production or scientific innovation. Such languages cannot effectively participate in the daily production of new knowledge in science, thought, literature, and learning. Consequently, they cannot withstand the flood of globalization and the powerful threats of global language. They either remain closed off or face extinction and do not become valuable sources of modern scientific knowledge and global intellectual movements (Sabir & Rafiq, 2008, p. 110). 

Psychologically, language is not merely a set of behaviors and expressions learned through imitation; rather, it is a means for communication between individuals and part of a broader process strengthening the reception and transmission of signals between the brain and muscles.

Similarly, from a sociological perspective, language is a factor in the formation of social relations and the establishment of connections among members of a society. Humans are indeed, by nature, social beings. However, language becomes a crucial element in this context, facilitating the process of socialization. Human interaction requires mutual understanding and communication. A person may be able to live without language, but carrying out tasks would be extremely difficult, and they would appear as a passive bystander in the flow of society, unable to fully participate. 

Anthropology gives importance to phenomena and positions of human societies. Language, as a universal human characteristic and cultural marker, is a field of study for anthropologists. They, at a high level, link language and culture, examining the strengths and weaknesses of language and their power to survive. Additionally, they view language as a cultural marker, a distinguishing feature of humanity that actively shapes cultural characteristics (Ashouri, Dariush, p. 53). 

From a linguistic perspective, language is split into two categories as per Ferdinand de Saussure, the Swiss linguist. Language can be seen as a tool for communication and connection, consisting of two aspects: first, as a means of producing sound and speech (expression), and conveying messages between humans. Second, as a system of grammar, usage, word formation, syntax, and the foundational rules of phonetics and written language (Shakely, Amjad, 2011, p. 6).

In the philosophy of language,  aside from its communicative role, language functions to reflect and interpret meaning and construct concepts. Arguably, what matters primarily in language is its interpretative potential – to what extent it contributes to the construction of meaning and logic. This view distinguishes between basic language and philosophical language, with the former lacking the ability to analyze and solve philosophical problems. Meanwhile, some argue that language itself is the source of philosophical problems, particularly due to misuse or incorrect use of language (Qader, Aram, 2010, pp. 69-71). In the philosophy of language, logic is emphasized insofar as philosophical language studies and explains language logically, analyzing its relationships with speech, thought, and the external world. 

What is important here is that the relationship between language and logic forms the foundation of the philosophy of language, whether basic language or scientific language. This approach influences the development of modern philosophy of language and is associated with thinkers such as George Moore, Bertrand Russell, and Ludwig Wittgenstein (Qader, Aram, Ibid, p. 13). 

Thus, language is not just a tool for communication; it also connects the past, present, and future, linking generations and enabling them to become familiar with their history and contemporary progress (Hamasalih, Tavga Omar, 2012, p. 41

Geography: A Science for Every Epoch

Geography is one of the oldest fields of knowledge. Since ancient times, people have strived to gain more knowledge and discover places other than their birthplace. The beginnings of this science were filled with confusion. Historians say that from the era of Herodotus onwards, explorers, conquerors, and observers documented their findings mainly for their governments and scholars in a general manner (Abdullah, Khabat, 2005, p. 33). 

The term "geography" is derived from the Greek language, consisting of two parts: "Geo," meaning Earth, and "Graphy," meaning description. Initially, geography meant describing the Earth. Geography first focused on describing and understanding places and people. Later, modern geography emerged after the widespread knowledge of global mapping during the Renaissance, leading to the recognition of regions, natural phenomena, and environmental systems. This was accompanied by the development of causal philosophy. This knowledge became part of the geographic sciences, incorporating the questions of where, why, and how of things into geographical studies (Jad Al-Rabb, Hussam Al-Din, 2012, p. 166). 

Besides studying nature, geography also pays attention to humans and ecosystems, and everything related. It connects natural and human systems, influencing human life. Thus, geography can be defined as the science that studies natural and human phenomena on the Earth's surface, their interrelations, differences, and effects on each other.

In the modern era, geography has become a comprehensive science related to natural and human phenomena. It has expanded beyond the classical context and now covers many topics and disciplines, with connections to other sciences. 

Geography can be divided into two main branches: First, Physical Geography. Second, Human Geography. Physical Geography not only investigates natural phenomena but also maintains strong connections with natural sciences in many fields. This relationship impacts the boundaries and dimensions of geography, evolving in new forms. It encompasses subfields such as geomorphology (landforms), climatology (study of climate and weather), soil geography, hydrology, and others (Shkoyi, Hussein, 2009, p. 27). 

What we want to emphasize is human geography, which studies the spatial distribution of human phenomena on the Earth's surface, directly relating to humans and their activities. It includes economic geography, political geography, demographic geography, urban geography, cultural geography, linguistic geography, and more (Shakoei, Hussein, previous source, p. 30).

Beyond studying population growth and settlement patterns and their relation to the environment, humanist geography looks at the utilization of resources through agriculture, industry, and trade. Additionally, it addresses human interactions with the environment, particularly in choosing settlement locations, whether rural or urban (Jad al-Rabb, Hussam al-Din, previous source, p. 195). 

Houston divides social geography into three parts: settlement geography, village geography, and urban geography (Jad al-Rabb, Hussam al-Din, same previous source, p. 363). Additionally, cultural geography is sometimes considered a part of social geography. The geographic scholarship focuses on social life events according to influential factors. Settlement regions and human societies are categorized based on climate types and other aspects. Here, special attention is given to the interaction between humans and geographical inevitabilities, as exemplified by scholars like Vidal de la Blanche and Pierre Georges, who analyzed the influence of human communities, groups, and organizations on geographical disasters and how humans adapt to their surrounding environment (Mohseni, Manouchehr, 2005, p. 199). 

Geolinguistics: Language in the field of Geography 

The focus of linguistic geography is the impact of geographical processes, boundaries, places, and environments on language, as well as the distribution of different languages across the world through mapping. Maps often emphasize the spatial aspects and locations of linguistic zones.

Since linguistic diversity is a part of the global landscape, geography is essential for illustrating these differences.Geography helps identify the locations of various language communities and understand the geographical factors that have influenced their formation. It also involves investigating the roles of natural and human factors in this process. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a scientific revolution in language studies, which led to the development of a new field known as the geography of language or linguistic geography. In this field, language is analyzed from a geographical perspective, and geography is studied from a linguistic perspective (Rashid Abdulrahman Al-Ubaidi, 2002, p.33).

Geographers focus on spatial aspects, while linguists focus on linguistic structures. The geography of language is a contemporary term for a discipline that combines two sciences (Bin Aoun, Al-Zubeir, Muhammad Dar, 2020, p.137). This field is a branch of the humanities that studies the distribution of different languages worldwide from a linguistic-geographic perspective. It examines the current state of language zones, the number of speakers, the usage of each language beyond its original territory, its economic significance, and the scientific, cultural, and intellectual factors that shape its recognition and modes of speaking and writing across regions (Kheirah, Belajalali, 2018, p.187). 

Furthermore, the geography of language investigates any geographic, historical, and social region within a specific linguistic unit. It explores linguistic questions linked to geography, focusing on regional variation in language to understand how location influences the spread and diversification of languages and linguistic forms within a defined area. 

This involves analyzing both geographical and linguistic factors and studying language distribution across natural borders and mapping the linguistic geography of speech communities for use in planning and developing geographic maps and linguistic atlases. It also involves showing the distribution and spread of languages and linguistic forms across various locations in ways that reflect language systems and their dissemination (Bay, Mario, 1980, p.11). This science not only studies language but also classifies linguistic forms or dialects within defined geographic regions based on geographic causes or compares the languages of neighboring countries to understand their mutual influence on grammar, vocabulary, and communication styles (Al-Hamid, Abdulaziz bin Hamid, 2011, p.29). 

Beyond this, linguistic geography, as a humanistic subject, is closely tied to cultural geography because language is one of the core components of culture. It shapes linguistic forms, and each of the contributing factors (geography, culture, environment) plays a role in this relationship (Sadreddin, Kazem Ahmed, 2013, p.83). Today, with the advancement of modern science, many fields and technologies have emerged to incorporate spatial data and information. One of the most significant tools is Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

As a geographical technique, GIS has not only simplified language-related spatial analysis but also been integrated with many other sciences. In the past, spatial language distributions were crudely represented on maps, which had to be split into multiple sections. Today, due to technological progress and the expansion of GIS in mapping and cartography, such work has become easier. One of the functions of linguistic geography is to map the distribution of linguistic forms globally. GIS can model and visually represent different languages with high accuracy, generating maps that not only show where languages are spoken but also reveal speaker populations and their distribution across the globe (Zui Hu, Guoan Tang, Guonian Lu, 2014, p.563).

The Relationship Between Language and Geography

We can relate geography's role in language to its interaction with other sciences, covering numerous aspects. Exploring the similarities and differences between geography and other disciplines offers deeper insights into language research. For instance, understanding grammatical development and literary expression in any culture benefits from the study of language in space, while historical research helps verify the existence and evolution of languages and interpret linguistic codes and systems. Philosophy contributes by examining the essence of language and dissecting its abstract layers. Sociology sheds light on the social uses and policies tied to language, including linguistic imperialism and language politics. Religion benefits from understanding the spiritual dimensions of language, its universal roles, and cultural symbolism (Jabari, Kazem, 2024, p.8). Researchers seek to bridge the gaps between disciplines, which helps uncover connections and shared foundations, opening doors to new research avenues and innovative ideas. In this context, studying the links between language and other humanities is particularly significant, especially between the sciences of language and geography. Just as geography affects the placement, community structure, and environment of populations, influencing daily language use and cultural patterns, it leaves a clear imprint on language itself (Khoshnaw, Sherwan Hussein, 2012, p.89). 

Undoubtedly, language, as a tool for speaking, communication, writing, and preservation, is influenced by both natural and human environments. This relationship can be explored within the framework of geography. From this perspective, we may also ask: What is geography itself?

This brings us to the idea that in any place where a culture and language have been able to firmly establish themselves, they have created not only political context but also administrative structures and a human geography unique to that context—ultimately laying the foundations of their geography (Sabir, Rafiq, 2008, p. 109). They go on to transform their language into a symbol and a source of pride for their homeland. Similarly, in political geography, language becomes one of the foundations of the state. In this sense, language fosters shared identity and strengthens citizenship. 

On the other hand, in cultural geography, the study of language focuses on its role as part of other cultural expressions such as literature, art, customs, rituals, religion, and so on. This approach differs from both physical geography and human geography research. (Jabari, Kazem, previous source, p. 8). From this perspective, the relationship between geography and its various branches and languages is mutually beneficial and opens the door to examining topics further.Furthermore, the emergence of different sciences and the discovery of their interconnections leads to the development of new ideas and perspectives, encourages innovation, and provides a fertile environment for scientific research. 

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