I am in a Master’s in School Guidance and Counseling program, and presently am enrolled in a Social and Cultural Foundations class. A requirement for the class is to interview people of a different culture than I am (I am very WASPish), and look at their culture. There are twelve different aspects of culture to be investigated.
My request is this: If I list the 12 aspects of culture, would you be willing to tell me your answers according to your culture? You could put your answers on the board if you wish and are comfortable with that, or you can email me. If you’re unsure about a particular aspect, it’s OK if you skip it.
I thank everyone who participates in advance.
The 12 aspects of culture (and ethnicity) are:
History
Social Status factors
Social Group Interaction Patterns (within and between groups)
Value Orientations
Language and Communication (verbal and nonverbal)
Family Structure (nuclear, extended, blended family format)
Sorry, zat schudt heff rrrread Gut Luck wiz your Pepah und I vill heff a look at zome of ze rrrrrest letah zoonight venn I heff moah TEIM!!!
Also I heff mis-schpelled Knackvurst in my anzer to you. Zat iss a failure on my parrrrt, und vill not be toh-lerrrated! I also neckleckted to mentchun Glühwein! Himmel! Someone get Frau Blücher for I heff ben a bed boy!
Ah, I just re-read all that blather up there, and I wanna make sure that you know HoTB, that I was just having a bit of fun. I noticed your post count wasn’t very high and you probably don’t know what an idiot I can be from time to time, so I felt like I needed to explain that I meant no harm. I really will give your culture points another look tonight.
BTW, did you used to live in Atlanta or do you live near the Braves training camp?
Okay, here’s a few items from your list. You may have already guessed I’m German. Actually German-American with dual citizenship.
History - we go back to the early Germanic Tribes (500-100BC), and we had our noses in just about everything including the downfall of Rome until the Franks formed the first German State in around the fifth century. Germans pop up just about everywhere else, although we didn’t hang around long in countries such as Spain and Italy because the natives there took over their own lands. This is just foundation stuff, okay?
Language - well, German with varied dialects depending on where you live. Some so heavy even I can’t understand 'em, and I’m from Bavaria!
Family Structure - very solid. In the past it was very difficult to get a divorce in Germany. From what I remember the father worked while Mom stayed home and tended to the house and the Kinder, but that like everything else, is changing with the economy which like everywhere else, really sucks right now.
Religion - mostly Protestant, with Roman Catholics in 2nd place.
Food - Depends on where you are. Many foods are peculiar to a particular region. One of my favorites Schweinehaxen (pig knuckle) I have only been able to find in the Franconian area of Germany (like Rothenburg, where I am from).
Recreation - what else? Fussball! Fussball! Fussball!, although American sports such as Basketball and American football are now played thghere as well. For personal recreation, the whole family is apt to go on an extended bike ride, and paths on German streets are clearly marked for bicycles, so don’t walk in them!
Clothing - varies with where you live. Many still wear the tradional Lederhosen and Dirndl dresses, but you can also find what we wear here in the States as well.
Okay. Now I hope that helped you, but I have to add a disclaimer so as not to bruns’ off the native German dopers, okay? Pretty much all of what I have written is the way I remember German culture (I’m 53 and have been in the US for 42 years) and is open to interpretation. I don’t wanna be hit with a bunch of linken-stein requests, 'cause there won’t be any!
I’m much obliged for your responses, however, I’m German-American as well. My Great Grandparents came over right before the turn of the century (19th-20th).
