Elements of culture - Sohag Ahmed

The Elements of Culture are:

1. Language:

Language is an abstract system of word meaning and symbols for all aspects of culture. Language includes speech characters, numeral, symbols and gestures of nonverbal communication. Language is the foundation of every culture. Language tells a great deal about a culture. In contrast to some others elements of culture, language permanents all parts of society. People invariably depend upon language for the use and transmission of the rest of a culture. Language does more than simply describe reality; it also serves to shape the reality of a culture. Language can shape how we see, taste, smell, fell and hear. It also influences the way we think about people, ideas and object around us. A culture’s most important norms, values and sanction are communicated to people through language.

2. Norms:

Norms are established standards of behavior maintained by a society. Norms imposes restrictions on our behavior. They are model practice; they determine, control and guide our behavior. For example, in movie theaters in the United States, we typically expect that people will be quite while the term is showing. Because of this norms, as users can tell a member of the audience to stop talking so loudly.

Types of norms: Sociologists distinguish between norms in two ways. Firstly, norms are classified as:

i. Formal norms: Formal norms have generally been written down and involve strict rules for punishment of violators. Law is an important example of formal norms.

ii. Informal Norms: Informal norms are generally understood but are not recorded. Standards of proper dress are all common example of informal norms. Our society has no specific punishment or sanction for a person who comes to school or to college dressed quite differently from everyone else.

Norms are also classified by their relative importance to society. When classified in this way they are known as:

i. Mors: Mores are norms deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society, often because they embody the most cherished principles of a people. Each society demands, obedience to its mores violation can lead to serve penalties.

ii. Folkways: Folkways are mores governing everybody’s behavior whose violation, raises, comparatively title concern. For example, walking up a “down” escalator in a department store challenges our standards of appropriate behavior, but it will not result in a fine or a jail sentence.

3. Values:

Each individual develops his or her own personal goals and ambitions, yet each culture provides a general set of objectives for its members. Values are these collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable and proper or bad, undesirable and improper- in a culture. They indicate what people in a culture prefer as well as what they find important and morally right or wrong. Values maybe specific such as honoring one’s parents and owning a home, or they may be more general, such as health, love and democracy. Values influence people’s behavior and serve as criteria for evaluating the action of others. There is often a direct relationship between the values, norms of a culture may change, but most remain relatively stable during any one person’s life time. It is emphasized that value systems can be quite different from that of own culture.

4. Sanction:

Sanctions are penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm. Conformity to norms can lead to positive sanctions such as a pay raise, a medal, a word of gratitude, or a pat on the back. Negative sanctions include fines, threats, and imprisonment and even stared of contempt. Implicit in the application of sanctions is the detecting of norm violation or obedience. A person cannot be penalized or rewarded. Unless someone with the power to provide sanctions is aware of the person’s actions.

The entire fabric of norms and sanctions in a culture reflects that culture’s values and priorities. The most cherished values will be most heavily sanctioned, matters regarded as less critical on the other hand will carry light and informal sanction.