CULTURE Culture – the total knowledge, shared attitudes, & behaviors of the members of a society - Enculturation– the process of people learning their culture : We learn from parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, TV, etc. : Race is not a culture, but it can influence culture

Culture changes constantly (Change & Exchange) Two ways culture can change: - Innovation – something that happens within a society - creating something new to meet a need - Introduction – something from outside the society causes it to change – on purpose or by accident : Diffusion – spread of ideas, inventions & patterns of behavior through contact with each other : Acculturation – when a society accepts or adopts ideas that are exchanged – can create radical change – either positive or negative Cultural Hearth- site of innovation where ideas, materials and technology diffuse to many cultures

Cultural Changes Major Changes of cultures throughout history: - Discovery of "Fire!" - Development of tools & discovery of metal - Development of agriculture - Development of writing

Four Parts of Culture Four things that make up a culture: 1) Language – a must for a culture to exist, one of most important factors - Communicates ideas & feelings - Helps establish an identity and sense of unity - nationalism - Constantly changes - Linguists divide language into 3 levels: : Standard / Official : Slang : Dialects - change in speech patterns related to education, class, region, etc. - Over 3,000 languages in world today

Language Diffusion Follow trade routes or even be invented Blended language aides communication among different groups Louisiana Creole Migration- take their languages with them Languages brought with colonists to the New World

Street Slang

2) Technology - tools & skills and the ability to make or use them - Modern Societies: : Use tools and machines : Change constantly - Traditional Societies live & work like our ancestors using simple tools Pecking order - Developed countries use high tech tools - Developing countries learning to use high tech tools - Under Developed countries use no high tech tools

3) Institutions - Education – how, for how long, what subjects - Government – what kind? rights? Role of the citizen - Economic System – what kind and how does it work? - Family – basic social / cultural group : Nuclear – 2 adults (usually male & female) + kids : Extended – same as nuclear plus grandparents, uncles/aunts etc. : Matriarchal – mother is the head : Patriarchal – father is the head : Single parent – mother or father + kids

4) Belief System – system of truth / facts 4) Belief System – system of truth / facts accepted by a society or group of people that determine how we live our lives - Includes: : Dress : Food : Religion : Recreation : Relationships : Art & literature - Belief systems are neither right or wrong. They vary from one culture to another

Culture Collage In your group, you should find two examples of innovation, two examples of diffusion and two examples of acculturation. Each set of examples should include a visual and written part. You should also find an example (written only )of how language reflects society, an example of dialect and language diffusion. Each example should have a caption explaining each.