CULTURE

1 Prepared by Amna Tariq

Batch 2023
Roll no 18203
Subject Sociology
Submitted to : Dr Shahab Uddin
CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Elements of culture

 Types of culture

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 CULTURE
Culture
 The ways of thinking, the ways of
acting, and the material objects
that together form a people’s way
of life.
 Culture includes the traditions we
inherit and pass on to the next
generation
 It includes how they dress, their
marriage customs, language and
family life, their patterns of work,
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religious ceremonies .
 When you travel to a different
country, you usually get different
sensation and feeling because most of
what you see, hear and even eats can
be very different from what you do in
your own country.
 Even in countries which share the
same language, everyday habits,
customs and behaviors may be quite
different

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ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
 Elements of culture are
 Symbols

 Language

 Values

 Norms

 Beleifs

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Symbols
 Every culture is filled with symbols , or things that
stand for something else and that often evoke
various reactions and emotions
  Some symbols are actually types of nonverbal
communication, while other symbols are in fact
material objects.
 Probably all societies have nonverbal symbols we
call gestures, movements of the hands, arms, or
other parts of the body that are meant to convey
certain ideas or emotions.
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 Curling the index finger with
the palm facing up is a 
common gesture that people
in United States and parts of
Europe use to beckon
someone to come closer.
 However, it is considered
rude in China, East Asia,
Malaysia, Singapore, the
Philippines, and many other
parts of the world
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 America: Usually uses
it as a taunt, it means “loser.”
China: Indicates the number 8
, which is considered a lucky
number. Knowing how to sign
numbers is especially useful
when bargaining in China.

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Language
  Language is the basic to interaction and
communication among people
 Language is differs from culture to
culture and its transmitted from one
generation to another.

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 Barf” means ”snow” in
Urdu, Hindi and Farsi.
 The English word
“angel” means a
supernatural being often
represented with wings.
Angel in German
translates to ”fishing
rod” and ”sting” in
Dutch.

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Values
 Shared beliefs about what is good or
bad; right or wrong
 Values are shared from generation to
generation
 Societies may have different values One
may conflict; another compromise.

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 Norms
 Shared rules of conduct Created by
society to enforce cultural values .
Norms keep a person within the
boundary of society and its culture. Its
gives us restriction about which to do or
which not to do.
 2 types of Norms:

1. Folkways

2. Mores

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Folkways-
 socially acceptable behavior with no
moral significance.
 E.g. way of greetings, way of dressing
for an occasion, standing, sitting etc
Mores (MOOR-ayz)
 Refer to the standards of behavior
considered the most important in any
society.
 Stealing is a crime.

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Beliefs
 Every sect with in a culture
having some beliefs for cultural
refuge.
 These beliefs are responsible for
the spiritual fulfillment of needs
and wants.
 Muslim believe in Allah and
Holly Prophet,.

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Material Culture
 Refers to the physical objects and
resources people use to define
their culture.
 These include homes,
neighborhoods, cities, schools,
churches, temples, mosques,
offices, factories and plants,
products stores etc.
 Physical aspects of a culture help
to define its members' behaviors
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and perceptions
 Non-material culture-
 It includes the concepts, values, mores
and ideas e.g. monogamy, democracy,
worship etc.

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