Language as a cultural map "Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going". Rita Mae Brown My essay on task "Express your opinion on the quote". Language reflects our thoughts. It affects the way we exchange knowledge, how we hand on our history. It definitely has an influence on our personalities and our daily life. Consequently, I agree with that quote. Maybe this strong connection between culture and language is the reason why people around the world try to speak their own language even with tourists. I think that English has become a lingua franca nowadays. On the one hand, it helps us overcome the language barrier and serves as a handy communication tool in science, business, tourism, etc. On the other hand, arguably it can weaken cultural specificity and make countries lose their edge.