1. What is Culture?

2. High culture v human culture High culture associated with arts and activities of the elites. The anthropological concept characterizes culture as that which distinguishes humans from other animals. The task of anthropology is to find out what culture is.

3. An Example of Cultural Difference Jin & Cortazzi, Cultural Orientation and Academic Language Use. Expectations of Chinese and British Students Chinese students, following a Confucianist tradition expect their teachers to be parental and to tell students what to do. British teachers, following a western tradition wanted to encourage independence in their students.

4. Chinese students were critical of their British teachers because they failed to do their duties. British teachers were critical of the Chinese students because they failed to show self- reliance. Note that the same (similar) institution functions differently in these two societies.

5. Different Human Worlds 1.We live in a physical world Therefore we obey the laws of physics.

6. 2.We live in a biological world. Therefore we also obey the laws of life. Note differences between physical and biological world. Physics: predictions, laws, constants. Biology: adaptation, selection, evolution, reproduction, history, time, coevolution.

7. 3. We live in a social world. This world is not limited to humans. Most animals have a social component. Biology and "Sociology" differ. Sociology: self, society, relationship, domination, cooperation, communication. The Social world is integrated with the biological world The biological world is redefined by it.

8. 4. We live in a world of shared meaning This includes language and understanding. This world is (almost) exclusively human And involves considerable variation among human groups or societies. We must operate in this context as well. The world of meaning includes: –meaning, symbolism, ideology, understanding (intersubjectivity), consent, advice, decrees, laws, interpretation

9. Ways of Understanding of Culture Materialist: –Means by which humans exist in the material world. (obtain food, clothing, shelter) (Biological World) Social Organization –Ways in which individuals organize and make decisions. social relationships: dominance, roles, love. (Social World) Idealist –Means of shared understanding events of the world, both other humans and things. –Culture as an intersubjective world. (Symbolic World = Language)

10. Which view is correct? All views are correct, though most anthropologists now accept that these approaches are interrelated.

11. Points about Culture Culture as a verb (Brian Street) – Culture as static or an on-going production and reproduction. What does culture do? The coercive aspects of culture.

12. Culture versus Institution Traditional view of culture as bounded, shared by all. Culture...is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. Tylor 1871:i (Primitive Culture)

13. Institution (P. Bourdieu) Society is a collection of institutions having the following properties. Field of play, Goals, Role assignments and practices and discourse Legitimations Structural versus Pragmatic Orientation

14. Examples of Institutions Education The System of Laws Mariage Greetings Institutions can be part of other institutions (greetings can be part of friendship, education, …) The institution is an important tool for examining discourse.

15. Structural versus Pragmatic Orientation Along the same lines as langue v. parole Structural perspective: –A description of institutional organizations Pragmatic (praxis) orientation (parole) –From the subject’s point of view. –Institutions seen as resources –Locus for change.

17. Relationship between Language and Culture.

18. So what is culture?