nature of-culture-notes-1205315252221117-2
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Monday, February 25, Warm-UpOn your Unit Sheet, under Warm-Up #1, answer the following question:
1. What is culture?
•_____
The Nature 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 Nature of CultureWhen 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
American Culture1. In groups of 4• draw 10 pictures of cultural items
that represent American culture
• write a list of 10 ideas, beliefs or concepts that are cultural traits of American culture.
Tuesday, February 26, Warm-UpAnswer 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 Nature 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 purpose of studying sociology?
1. Understand social structure
2. Explain reasoning for group’s pattern of behavior
3. Repeat or change behavior
4. Promote conformity
Culture vs. Society1. Culture the ways in which a particular
group of people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects
2. Society 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.
Thursday, February 28, Warm-UpOn your Unit Sheets under WarmUp #3, answer the following question:
What are basic needs of all humans?
American CultureCultural Items Cultural Traits McDonalds DrugsFord Music Baseball Money Chevy Statue Of Liberty Michael Jordan Flag Football Ipod Cell phone Twin Towers Mall MYSPACE
Authority & Freedom Diversity Opportunities Money Freedom of religion Power & rights Freedom of speech Democracy Education Liberty Justice Patriotism Advertising Gluttony Arrogant
Nacirema CultureCultural Items Cultural TraitsCharm boxHoly waterShrineCharmsPotionsSharp instruments
Body 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?
What is the purpose of studying culture? reasoning for why people act the way that
they doUnderstanding other ethnicitiesExplain why beliefs of groups existSimilarities/differences of cultural groupsNew perspective of life and behavior
What is the purpose of studying culture?1. Studying culture will help us to understand and
explain the patterns of behavior of societies, or cultural groups.
2. Studying culture will help us to determine what behavior is universal across cultures and why cultures differ from region to region.
3. Studying culture will help us to determine which human behavior is instinctive, or innate, unlearned behavior, and which behavior is learned.
What is the purpose of studying sociology?
1. Understand social structure
2. Explain reasoning for group’s pattern of behavior
3. Repeat or change behavior
4. Promote conformity
The Nature of Culture Quiz 11. What is culture?
2. List 5 objects that would be considered cultural items for any culture.
3. List 5 ideas that would be considered cultural traits for any culture.
4. What is the purpose of studying culture?
Class assignment, complete and discuss.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, village in what is now Alaska. While the other group lives next to a river on the equator, in what is now Ghana (in Africa). 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).
How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:
In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.
HOW CAN CULTURE BE TRANSMITTED?
Transmission of CultureCultures can be spread and communicated
through the use of symbols.
Symbols 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
Language and CultureTask #1:
On the following 3 pages, you will view 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.
Language and CultureTask #1:
On the following 3 pages, you will view 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
How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:
In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.
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 relativity or the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis)
Language and CultureTask #3Read the expressions on the following page and
complete the following:1.What is the meaning of the expression?2.How might someone who is just learning
American 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.
Language and CultureTask #2
On the following pages American English will be compared to other languages. Examine each page and complete the following tasks:
1.Write in additional synonyms for the words provided
2.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)
Language and CultureAmerican English Inuit (Eskimo Language)
• WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SNOW
FluffIce powderSlushSnowstormSnowfallSnowflakeHailSleetIceBlizzardFrozen precipitationWintery weatherFrozen rain
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SNOW
See Attached
Language and Culture American English Twi (a Ghanaian
Language)WORDS THAT DESCRIBE
HELLOHey what’s goodYo what’s poppinWhat’s upHiHolaChelloAyo AyeGreetingsGood morningGood dayMorningGood afternoon CiaoHowdybonjour
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GOOD MORNING (Only)
Mekyea woMa akyeMa ahaMa adwoAgoo AmeeYooNante YeWo ho te sEnKyeaYaa agyaYaa ena
Language and CultureAmerican English Twi (a Ghanaian
Language)WORDS THAT DESCRIBE
MONEY Beans bejamins Bills stalks Bread funds Banknote coin Cash dibs Check dinero Cabbage scratch Dough rocks Capital mula Green green stuff Dollar bill Cask Buck Guap Chedda cheese
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE MONEY
Cedis
How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:
In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.
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 relativity or the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis)
IDEA #3:When something is important to a society, its language will have
many words to describe. Values of a cultural group can be understood by studying its language.
Monday, March 10, Warm-UpOn your Unit Sheet, complete the following:
Write one paragraph explaining how language and culture are related.
How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:
In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.
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 relativity or the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis)
IDEA #3:When something is important to a society, its language will have
many words to describe. Values of a cultural group can be understood by studying its language.
Wednesday, March 12, Warm-Up1. What are you suppose to do when you
cough?2. What is the speed limit on Connecticut
highways?3. How many spouses can an American
have?4. How do you shake someone’s hand?5. Is murder acceptable?6. Is lying acceptable?
Identifying culturesCulture –the ways in which a particular group of
people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects
Sub-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 symbols?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.
Read 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 valuesPolitical valuesEconomic valuesGender valuesAge-related values
Answer: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 American
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:FolkwaysMoresLaws
In relation to norms, what are folkways?Folkways are norms that do not have
great moral significance attached to them—the common customs of everyday lifeHow 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 relation to norms, what are mores?Mores are norms that have great moral
significance attached to themExamples 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