CULTURE &

LEARNING
By:
Chew Yan Hong
Phoon Wen Yun

DEFINITION OF CULTURE

"Culture is a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief,

art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of society". (Edward B. Tylor,
1871)

Culture is the collective programming of the mind which

distinguishes the members of one group or category of people
from another (Hofstede 1994:5)

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT RACES IN MALAYSIA?

15%
10%
50%
25%

WHAT ARE THE OTHER RACES IN MALAYSIA?

Malacca

West Malaysia

Sarawak

Sabah

Baba Nyonya

Temer

Dayak

Kadazan
Dusun

Chitty

Iban

Bajau

Portuguese
Descendent

Bidayuh

Murut

Orang Ulu

DO DIFFERENT RACES HAVE DIFFERENT CULTURE?

1. Race and culture are both classifications of people.

2. Race is classified according to physical appearances while
culture is classified according to the beliefs and values of
people.
3. Race is hereditary while culture is not transmitted through
genes but through symbols.
4. Race is a label given to people based on their appearance
while culture are shared beliefs and values.
5. A persons race can be determined through their physical
appearance and skin tone while culture and be determined in the
expressing of oneself, spirituality, and perception.
6. People with the same race can have a different culture
while people with the same culture can have different races.

EXAMPLES
1.

Meeting and Greeting

Most Malaysians are not used to greeting with a hug and kiss,
this may happen among close family and friends (women only)
and it is not appropriate for first meeting.

CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES OF CULTURE

1.

2.

Learned - Culture is not herited but can be learned. For

example: manners and dress codes, table manners and
communication with the elderly.
Shared - in terms of clothing ,food

3.

Inheritedmarriage customs passed down from one

generation to another generation.

4.

Have a symbolic elements- flags, logos and symbols have

specific meanings

HOW IS RACE
DIFFERENT
FROM
ETHNICITY?

Race is the division of people based on

certain physical characteristics, but
ethnicity is the classification of people who
share a common cultural, linguistic or
ancestral heritage.

Race

Ethnicity

Differences in hair, skin

colour, facial, body, etc

Differences in language
age,religion, customs,
tradition, food, etc.

WHATARESOMEOFTHECULTURE
OFRACESINMALAYSIA?

The Chinese Culture

The Indian Culture

The Malay Culture