Pat Stuart

Does language change culture or does a changing culture give us new words, new usage for existing words, and new speech patterns? 

It’s another one of those age-old questions, like: What came first, the chicken or the egg? 

Language/culture, chicken/egg. Do they share the same inherent connection?

Social scientists say a resounding, “yes.” Not only are culture and language indissolubly connected, but here’s another aspect of this picture: Both affect behavior — language more than culture. Of course, that’s the full circle snake-biting-tail thing, with behavior wrapping its head around to eat the cultural and language tail.

I began thinking about this recently ... all because of my two large and growing puppies and an idea that I’d better brush up on my training techniques if I wanted well-behaved adult pooches. After checking the current literature, I could see that things have changed in the dog world, going from choke collars and sharp commands to treats, happy words, and happy tones.

Well, OK. That’s different. Does it work?

I once had a fair amount of dog training experience, which began with a rescued Norwegian elkhound and membership in the Maryland Dog Training Club. During the next five years, my employer had me classified as “married/immobile,” which stuck me in Washington, D.C. (They’re two words you’ll no longer hear joined, thank heavens and a changing culture.) Anyway, during those years my husband and I built a hobby show kennel, spending most of our weekends traveling and competing.

Choke collars and sharp commands worked. Our elkhounds gained their companion dog degrees as easily as they won their breed championships. This included class wins at one memorable show in Reston, Virginia. There, two of them did their long down-stays on the fringes of Hurricane Beulah — five minutes on their elbows in 2 inches of standing water with wind and rain slashing the meadow.

Without carrying this thought too far, that general cultural dynamic carried over into the work and home environments. Children obeyed up to a point and, certainly, didn’t talk back ... and absolutely didn’t share in decision-making. “Make your bed! Be home at 6 o’clock!” 

No, dulcet-toned, “Did you forget something, honey?” or “Let’s try and do better tomorrow, sweetie,” for us.

As a child, myself, one of my most repeated and heartfelt phrases was, “Oh, am I in trouble now.” Trouble meant a spanking — the penalty for disobedience in most of the families of my generation.

The same bluntness carried into the workplace. In my early career, any allowed discussion occurred during staff meetings. For the most part, we received our orders in words of one syllable, figuratively saluted and went out to do the job — alone, for the most part.

“Yes, sir. Yes, ma’am.” Too many mistakes, and you were out. “You’re fired.”

Yes. I think we spoke in much fewer words, some would say harshly, and without embellishing. “You screwed up, Pat. Fix it.” I don’t recall ever hearing anything like the understanding tones and circuitous “positive reinforcement of new solutions” for “unfortunate results” that accompanies “feedback” now.

Other vocabulary changed. Take the word “team.” We had teams, of course. They had captains who made plans and gave orders which each team member obeyed, usually without question and without much reference to other members of the team. Teams definitely weren’t formed to provide “integrated solutions” or to “motivate employees toward fulfilling company goals.”

Which is not to say it was a better time. Just different. Language, behavior and culture. I first noticed the shift as we transitioned out of the Cold War and into the War on Terrorism. The pace of change accelerated hugely when we entered the cyber years. The words and our attitudes altered or adjusted, our culture and behavior with them. 

But back to the dog training. I’m now using treats and almost whispered “cue” words. Better? My pups are probably happier. But would either of them ever do a long down in a driving rain and a couple of inches of water — all of us freezing, soaked through to the skin, tents and shelters collapsed or blown away?

Highly unlikely.

Would breeders, trainers, and handlers attend a show in such conditions? Even more unlikely. Would a dog show association hold such a show now? Never.

Different strokes for different times.