Culture is too complex to define in simple terms. However, there are certain agreed-on fundamentals that can be easily identified. One is that culture is a total pattern of behaviourthat is consistent in its components. Another fundamental is that culture is learned behaviour. The third is that culture is behaviourthat is shared by a group of people.
To understand the culture of a particular country or region, one could examine its components, among which are material culture, language, and social organization. Material culture includes the tools and symbols in a society, not including those physical things found in nature, unless they have undergone some change or have been given meaning by people. For example, a mouse running on a street is not part of a culture, but the Mickey Mouse is. The way we consume and what we consume are heavily influenced by material culture.
Language is the most obvious difference between cultures, which reflects the nature and values of that culture. Industrialized societies have a rich vocabulary for commercial and industrial activities, while less industrialized societies may have richer vocabularies for matters important to their societies.
Social organization differs somewhat from society to society. The primary kind of community association is based on blood ties. In many developing countries, the extended family fulfills several social and economic roles. Itprovides mutual protection, psychological support and a kind of economic insurance or social security for its members. The term "brothers" in Zaire includes those whom we call cousins and uncles.
Cultural analysis serves a variety of purposes. Understanding the various dimensions and their inter-relatedness helps promote cross-cultural awareness. It leads on to the promotion of goodwill, social and economic planning and harmony between social groupings or societies.
微信扫码预览、分享更方便
