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Description
This study investigates cultural variations in English as an International Language (EIL) through the use of AI-powered ChatGPT, drawing on the Cultural Linguistics framework proposed by Farzad Sharifian (2017). Adopting a qualitative exploratory design, the research employs ChatGPT to generate and explain culturally embedded expressions from a range of speech communities, including Thai, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, and Arabic.
The analysis focuses on three key dimensions of cultural conceptualization. First, pragmatic cultural schemas are examined through common communicative practices such as greeting, apologizing, responding to compliments, and receiving gifts. Second, cultural categories are explored through domains such as kinship systems and color terms. Third, cultural metaphors are investigated, particularly those involving animals and their symbolic meanings. ChatGPT is prompted to provide context-sensitive expressions, translations, and explanations, which are then analyzed to uncover underlying conceptual systems across cultures.
The findings reveal significant variation in how different communities encode politeness, social relationships, and values in language. These culturally grounded conceptualizations are subsequently mapped into English, demonstrating how diverse English varieties emerge when English is used as an international language shaped by local norms. At the same time, the study identifies certain limitations in AI-generated outputs, including tendencies toward generalization and cultural simplification.
This study contributes by proposing a practical framework for applying Cultural Linguistics to intercultural communication, offering effective AI prompting strategies for exploring global cultural systems, and suggesting pedagogical implications for teaching and learning EIL with greater cultural awareness and critical engagement.
Keywords: AI-ChatGPT, cultural linguistics, cultural variation, EIL
