lesson 1 ex 2 pg. 12
The word heritage comes from the verb ‘to inherit’ which means to receive something that
was previously owned. Every nation has two types of heritage. Firstly, there is tangible
heritage which includes historical monuments, buildings and archaeological sites as well as
artefacts such as paintings, drawings, prints, mosaics and sculptures. Then there is our
intangible inheritance which includes language, values, traditions and oral history.
Cuisine, clothing, forms of shelter, traditional skills, craftsmanship and technologies,
religious ceremonies and all evidence of human creativity and expression such as
storytelling, music and dance are part of our intangible cultural inheritance. And we know
that culture is the accumulation or collection of ideas, customs, traditions and
achievements of a particular group or nation.
It is these intangible examples of our cultural heritage that very often give nations their
distinct cultural identities. For example, no other country has a Flamenco tradition like
Spain or celebrates the Day of the Dead like Mexico.
In Vienna there is a vibrant modern-day coffee house culture that dates back to the late
19th century while China has a unique tradition of shadow puppetry which first became
popular during the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127).
The carpet and weaving traditions of Azerbaijan, the tradition of falconry in the UAE, and
even the healthy Mediterranean diet are all examples of an intangible cultural heritage.
Although culture is constantly changing and evolving, it is important to understand our
heritage as this is what tells us who we are and where we come from. The language you
speak, the recipe your mother cooks that she received from her mother’s mother, the
stories your father told you as a child, are all part of your heritage. Preserving our tangible
and intangible culture is our responsibility. It is unfortunate that illegal artefacts and
cultural objects are often trafficked around the world, while historical buildings and
monuments are often destroyed in certain countries. Due to those incidents, national laws
and international treaties are in place to safeguard cultural heritage.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has adopted
international conventions on the protection of cultural heritage.
BREAK OUT GROUPS
a. Make a list of five pieces both tangible and intangible of the UAE’s heritage that
you think are important and why.
b. Do you think these things should be preserved? Why?
c. The world is changing very quickly these days and many people feel that some
things are getting left behind. Can you think of any? Name the most important three