Sociology: :Language, Beliefs and Values and Our Cultural Reality:
Grade Level:
11/12
Subject:
Sociology
Prepared By:
L. Korpics
Overview- Think of and write down four words that didn’t exist 20 years ago
Think of two words and write down two words that didn’t exist 5 years ago
(The area of Linguists in Sociology uses words, gestures and other interaction
symbolic features to determine our “sociological reality”
Performance Standards Addressed
To examine symbolic interactionism, linguism and
gestures in cultural reality
Do Now:
Teacher Objectives
Student Guide
SWBAT: Speakers of different languages
think about the world in quite different
ways.
This view is sometimes called the WhorfSapir hypothesis, after the linguists who
made it famous - that we know the world
only in terms of our language.
Language then determines our cultural
reality
Notes: The Whorf-Sapir hypothesis
states that we know the world only in
terms of our language.
Values are defined as the standards
by which people assess desirability,
goodness, and beauty; they are
broad principles
Beliefs - specific statements that
people hold to be true.
Culture is defined as the values,
beliefs, behavior, and material
objects that constitute a people's
way of life. Material Culture is the
objects we use and Non-material
Culture is the values we give them.
Mores distinguish between right and
wrong
Folkways distinguish between right
and rude
Proscriptive Norms: mandate what
we should not do
Prescriptive Norms: stating what we
should do.
Deviance: not conforming to the
“norm”. Relative to time and place.
Ideal Culture: The way things
SHOULD be...not how they are.
What is the English Translation for
these words?
Tartle
Scottish – The act of hesitating while
introducing someone because you’ve
forgotten their name
Prozvonit
Czech – This word means to call a
mobile phone and let it ring once so that
the other person will call back, saving
the first caller money.
SWBAT: Values are defined as the
standards by which people assess
desirability, goodness, and beauty; they
are broad principles
Beliefs - specific statements that people
hold to be true. Beliefs are learned
through socialization and help shape how
we perceive our surroundings and how
our personality develops.
Materials Needed
 Pen
 Notebook
 Text: “Sociology:
HOLT.

Information
I do: Notes on objectives
(Give and/or demonstrate necessary
information)
We do:
Verification
(Steps to check for student
understanding)
Activity
(Describe the independent activity to
reinforce this lesson)
They do:
 What was one belief you had that
changed?
 What is one belief you have that
hasn’t changed?
 If you were to choose one word to
sum up your value system…what
would it be?
Independent: HW find an article that
expresses material and nonmaterial
culture
1.
2.
3.
4.
Assessment: Quiz, Unit
Exam, HW Article
Assignment
Inquiry – Discussion
Sociologists describe two
interrelated aspects of human
culture: the physical objects of the
culture (Material Culture) and the
ideas associated with these objects.
(Non-material Culture).
Homework Due: Friday 9/9/11
Article:
What is it
Who are the individuals that would use
these articles/constructs
What groups are not included
Think of 2 reasons not mentioned in the
article for the possible reasons for these
items in a latent fashion
Exit Quiz
HW
Summary:
Other Resources
Smart Board/Computer/Photos