Nature of Culture Notes

Monda y, F e brua ry 25, Wa rm -UpOn your Unit Sheet, under Warm-Up

#1, answer the following question:

1. What is culture?

•_____

The Na ture of CultureWhat is culture?

Culture the ways in which a particular group of people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

The Na ture of Culture When studying cultures throughout the world, you will

analyze various cultures by distinguishing between:

cultural traits – the smallest element in a culture nonmaterial, such as a belief

cultural items – a material culture trait, which can be seen, handled and used

Ame rica n Culture1. In groups of 4• draw 10 pictures of cultural items that

represent A merican culture

• write a list of 10 ideas, beliefs or concepts that are cultural traits of A merican culture.

Tue s da y, F e brua ry 26, Wa rm-UpA nswer the following question under Warm-Up

#2 on your unit sheet:

Given your understanding of the purpose of studying sociology, why is it important to study culture?

* Under essential questions, change question #1 to What is the purpose of studying culture?

The Na ture of CultureWhat is culture?

Culture the ways in which a particular group of people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

Religion, dress, music, group behavior, jobs, lifestyles, daily life, family, rules, objects, gestures, symbols, ideas, values, traditions, foods, language, morals, trends, greetings, manners, drinks, laws, art, knowledge, homes

What is the purpos e of s tudying s ociology?

1. Understand social structure

3. Explain reasoning for group’s pattern of behavior

5. Repeat or change behavior

7. Promote conformity

Culture vs . S oc ie ty1. Culture the ways in which a particular group of

people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

2. S ociety a specific territory inhabited by people who share a common culture

3. A society’ s culture is their total way of life. Culture needs a society of people to develop and a society will not stay intact without culture.

Thurs da y, F e brua ry 28, Wa rm-UpOn your Unit S heets under WarmUp

#3, answer the following question:

What are basic needs of all humans?

Ame rica n CultureCultural Items Cultural Traits McDonalds Drugs

Ford Music B aseball Money Chevy S tatue Of L iberty Michael Jordan Flag Football Ipod Cell phone Twin Towers Mall MY S PACE

Authority & Freedom Diversity Opportunities Money Freedom of religion Power & rights Freedom of speech Democracy Education Liberty Justice Patriotism Advertising Gluttony Arrogant

Na c ire ma CultureCultural Items Cultural Traits

Charm box Holy water S hrine Charms Potions S harp instruments

B ody is ugly

Given the list of cultural items and traits, what Americans value?

Given the list of cultural items and traits, the people of Nacirema value?

Wha t is the purpos e of s tudying culture ? reasoning for why people act the way that they do Understanding other ethnicities Explain why beliefs of groups exist S imilarities/differences of cultural groups New perspective of life and behavior

Wha t is the purpos e of s tudying culture ?1. S tudying culture will help us to understand and explain

the patterns of behavior of societies, or cultural groups.

3. S tudying culture will help us to determine what behavior is universal across cultures and why cultures differ from region to region.

5. S tudying culture will help us to determine which human behavior is instinctive, or innate, unlearned behavior, and which behavior is learned.

What is the purpos e of s tudying s ociology?

1. Understand social structure

3. Explain reasoning for group’s pattern of behavior

5. Repeat or change behavior

7. Promote conformity

The Na ture of Culture Quiz 11. What is culture?

3. L ist 5 objects that would be considered cultural items for any culture.

5. L ist 5 ideas that would be considered cultural traits for any culture.

7. What is the purpose of studying culture?

Cla s s a s s ig nme nt, c om ple te a nd d is c us s .Given our discussion on culture and basic needs all people,

write a 2-paragraph response to the following:

Two-thousand years ago, their are 2 groups of people. One group lives in a coastal, or ocean-side, v illage in what is now A laska. While the other group lives next to a river on the equator, in what is now Ghana (in A frica). Describe how each group’s society and culture may have developed. (hint: in your answer consider what characteristics define culture, geography and basic human needs).

Culture s De ve lopingCulture of group in Alaska Culture of group in Ghana

How a re la ng ua g e a nd c ulture re la te d?(e s s e ntia l que s tion #2)IDEA #1:

In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.

HOW CA N CULTURE B E TRA NS M ITTED?

Tra ns m is s ion of Culture Cultures can be spread and communicated through the use

of symbols.

S ymbols are a thing that stands for or represents something else.

Examples of symbols can include sounds, smells, tastes, gestures, expressions, images, people, objects, or a word

School School Crossing

Men at Work

Car Rental

Elevator

Ans we r the following que s tionHow are symbols essential, or important in transmitting culture?

La ng ua g e a nd CultureTask #1:

On the following 3 pages, you will v iew a series of colors you must identify all of these colors by writing its color name on the specific box identified. Y our entire group must be in agreement when identify ing each color.

La ng ua g e a nd CultureTask #1:

On the following 3 pages, you will v iew a series of colors you must

• identify all of these colors by writing its color name on the specific box identified

• your entire group must be in agreement when identifying each color

Wha t color is it?

Wha t color is it?

Wha t color is it?



IDEA #2:

Our understanding of a thing relates to the complexity and detail of the words we use to describe it (also known as the hypothesis of linguistic relativ ity or the S apir-Whorf Hypothesis)

La ng ua g e a nd Culture Task #3

Read the expressions on the following page and complete the following:

3. What is the meaning of the expression?

4. How might someone who is just learning A merican English perceive this expression?

Expression: A leopard can’t change its spots.

• Expression: Getting up on the wrong side of bed.

• Expression: Kick the bucket.

• Expression: It’s raining cats and dogs.

La ng ua g e a nd Culture Task #2

On the following pages A merican English will be compared to other languages. Examine each page and complete the following tasks:

4. Write in additional synonyms for the words provided

5. What can be learned about each culture based on the number, or lack of, synonyms of the words studied. (hint-what does the culture value, or what is important)

La ng ua g e a nd CultureAmerican English Inuit (Eskimo Language)

• WORDS THA T DES CRIB E S NOW

Fluff

Ice powder

S lush

S nowstorm

S nowfall

S nowflake

Hail

S leet

Ice

B lizzard

Frozen precipitation

Wintery weather

Frozen rain

WORDS THA T DES CRIB E S NOW

S ee A ttached

La ng ua g e a nd Culture American English Twi (a Ghanaian Language)

WORDS THA T DES CRIB E HELLO

Hey what’s good

Y o what’s poppin

What’s up

Hi

Hola

Chello

A yo

A ye

Greetings

Good morning

Good day

Morning

Good afternoon

Ciao

Howdy

bonjour

WORDS THA T DES CRIB E GOOD MORNING (Only)

M ekyea wo

M a akye

M a aha

M a adwo

A goo

A mee

Y oo

Nante Y e

Wo ho te sEn

K yea

Y aa agya

Y aa ena

La ng ua g e a nd CultureAmerican English Twi (a Ghanaian Language)

WORDS THA T DES CRIB E MONEY

B eans bejamins B ills stalks B read funds B anknote coin Cash dibs Check dinero Cabbage scratch Dough rocks Capital mula Green green stuff Dollar bill Cask B uck Guap Chedda cheese

WORDS THA T DES CRIB E MONEY

Cedis



IDEA #2:


IDEA #3:

When something is important to a society, its language will have many words to describe. V alues of a cultural group can be understood by studying its language.

Monda y, Ma rch 10, Wa rm-UpOn your Unit S heet, complete the

following:

Write one paragraph explaining how language and culture are related.



IDEA #2:


IDEA #3:

When something is important to a society, its language will have many words to describe. V alues of a cultural group can be understood by studying its language.

We dne s da y, Ma rch 12, Wa rm-Up 1. What are you suppose to do when you cough? 2. What is the speed limit on Connecticut highways? 3. How many spouses can an A merican have? 4. How do you shake someone’s hand? 5. Is murder acceptable? 6. Is lying acceptable?

Ide ntifying culture s Culture –the ways in which a particular group of people lives,

including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

S ub-culture – groups in society share values, norms, and behaviors that are not shared by the entire population

Counterculture – a subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to certain central beliefs or attitudes of the dominant culture

What components define a culture? All cultures, regardless of time, location or size have the

following:SymbolsLanguageTechnologyValuesNorms, including folkways, mores, and laws

What are s ymbols ? Symbols are anything that stands for something else

and has a shared meaning attached to it. Language, gestures, images, sounds, physical objects, events, and elements of the natural world can serve as symbols as long as people recognize that they convey a particular meaning.

What is technology? Technology is knowledge of tools people use for

practical purposes

What are examples of tools people use for practical purposes today?

What is language? Language is an organization of written and spoken

symbols into a standardized system.

R e a d the following :Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde

Uinervtisy, itdeosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrodare, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

What are values ? Values are shared beliefs about what is good or bad,

right or wrong, desirable or undesirable

A cultural group could have: Religious values Political values Economic values Gender values Age-related values

Ans wer: 1. What are you suppose to do when you cough? 2. What is the speed limit on Connecticut highways? 3. How many spouses can an A merican have? 4. How do you shake someone’s hand? 5. Is murder acceptable? 6. Is lying acceptable?

What are norms *? Norms are shared rules of conduct that tell people how

to act in specific situations in order to enforce cultural values, norms include: Folkways Mores Laws

In re lation to norms , what are fo lkways ? Folkways are norms that do not have great moral

significance attached to them—the common customs of everyday life How many time a week should a person shower?

Examples of folkways are: rules for eating, sleeping, supporting school activities, removing your hat indoors, rules for dress

In re lation to norms , what are mores ? Mores are norms that have great moral significance

attached to them Examples can include: working for a living, standing up

at during the national anthem or pledge of allegiance, not using profanity during a religious service, respecting the limitations of others whether it be physical or mental, telling the truth

In re lation to norms , what are laws ? Laws are written rules of conduct that are enacted

and enforced by the government. By definition, the violation of these norms is considered a criminal act