CULTURE AND

LANGUAGE

DEFINITION OF
CULTURE
Culture is that complex
whole
which
includes
knowledge, beliefs, art,
law, custom, and any
other capabilities and
habits acquired by man
as a member of the
society.

From Primitive Culture by Sir Edward Burnett Tylor

(Englishanthropologist, 2 October 1832 2 January 1917)

COMPONENTS OF

DEFINITION OF LANGUAGE
Language is systematic communication
by vocal symbols.
(Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, 1994: 479)

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CULTURE & LANGUAGE
Human beings do not
live in the objective
world alone, nor alone in
the world of social
activity as ordinarily
understood, but are very
much at the mercy of
the particular language
which has become the
medium of expression in
that society.

Edward Sapir(18841939)
Americananthropologistlinguist

ICEBERG OF
CULTURE
The
kind of VISUAL
elements of culture that
are easily identifiable,
easily shared, and easily
accessed.

Surface
Culture
Above the Surface
Emotional Load:
Relatively Low

VISIBLE
ASPECT
OF CULTURE
Food * Dress * Music *
Visual Arts * Drama *
Crafts * Dance *
Literature * Language *
Celebrations * Games

ICEBERG OF
CULTURE

INVISIBLE
ASPECT
OF CULTURE

Elements of culture that

are perhaps not as easily
pointed out, more
ingrained into society.

Unspoken
Rules

Behavior-based.
The things that dont get
talked about, and often
times arent even
realized.
Value-Based.

Just Below the Surface

Emotional Load: High

Unconscious
Rules
Far Below Surface

(Continued)
INVISIBLE ASPECT OF CULTURE
Unspoken Rules
Courtesy * Contextual Conversational Patterns * Concept of Time *
Personal Space * Rules of Conduct * Facial Expressions * NonVerbal Communication * Body Language * Touching * Eye-Contact
* Patterns of Handling Emotions
Unconscious Rules
Notions of Modesty * Concept of Beauty * Courtship Practices *
Relationships to Animals * Notions of Leadership * Tempo of Work
* Concepts of Food * Ideals of Childrearing * Theory of Disease *
Social Interaction Rate * Nature of Friendships * Tone of Voice *
Attitudes Towards Elders * Concept of Cleanliness * Notions of
Adolescence * Patterns of Group Decision-Making * Definition of
Insanity * Preference for Competition or Cooperation * Tolerance
of Physical Pain * Concept of self * Concept of Past and Future *
Definition of Obscenity * Attitudes toward Dependents * Problem-