新商务英语理论与实务 教学课件 蒋景东situation 2 Culture Its Components.pptVIP

Culture Its Components Intercultural Communication Culture Its Components What is Culture? Howard defines culture as the customary manner in which human groups learn to organize their behavior and thought in relationship to their environment. Havilland calls culture a set of rules or standards shared by members of a society which when acted upon by the members, produces behavior that falls within a range that members consider proper and acceptable. Culture Its Components Anthropologists define culture as any human behavior that is learned rather than genetically transmitted. They believe that culture is not necessarily high or low; it exists in any type or stage of civilization. Culture Its Components In addition, the cultural patterns that are typical of a certain group communicate the essence of that group. Culture distinguishes one group of people from another. These and other definitions all point to the fact that culture is all pervasive, including not only customs and habits, ideas and beliefs but also the artifacts made by humans. Culture Its Components Culture is the summation of material civilization spirit civilization. Culture Its Components Two major components of culture: the material and nonmaterial. The material refers to tangible items such as cars, watches, television sets, and houses. The nonmaterial is comprised of intangible elements such as values, norms, emotions, attitudes, aspirations, beliefs and customs, laws and symbols. Culture Its Components Functions of these two components: Both the material and nonmaterial components of culture play a major role in influencing people’s perceptions of reality, thought and behavior patterns. Culture Its Components Cultures are dynamic: culture shapes values, norms, emotions, beliefs, attitudes, aspirations, symbols, laws, perceptions and material possessions. In turn, these impact culture, which means that cultures are dynamic,always undergoing tremendous change. Culture I