Aida Venegas
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Slide 5 – Definition of Culture
Slide 6 – Mexican Lanugage
Slide 7 – Mexican Values
Slide 8 – Mexican Customs
Slide 9 – Graph: Mexican Population
Slide 10 – Europe Values
Slide 11 – Europe Language
Slide 12 – Europe Food
Slide 13 - Graph: Europe Population
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Slide 14 - China’s History
Slide 16 – China’s Food
Slide 17 – Graph: China’s Population
Slide 18 - Laos Language
Slide 19 - Laos Food
Slide 20 – Laos History
Slide 21 – Graph: Laos Population
Slide 22 - Thailand Language
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Slide 23 – Graph: Thailand Population
Slide 24 – Reflection Paper
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In the twentieth century, "culture" emerged as a
concept central to anthropology, encompassing all
human phenomena that are not purely results of
human genetics. Specifically, the term "culture" in
American anthropology had two meanings: (1) the
evolved human capacity to classify and represent
experiences with symbols, and to act imaginatively and
creatively; and (2) the distinct ways that people living
in different parts of the world classified and
represented their experiences, and acted creatively.
A distinction is current between the physical artifacts
created by a society, its so-called material culture and
everything else, the intangibles such as language,
customs, etc. that are the main referent of the term
"culture".
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Language in Mexico
Spanish control of Mexico led to the dominance of Spanish, the official language. As many as 100
Native American languages are still spoken in Mexico, but no single alternative language prevails.
Eighty percent of those Mexicans who speak an indigenous language also speak Spanish. The most
important of the Native American languages is Nahuatl. It is the primary language of more than a
million Mexicans and is spoken by nearly one-fourth of all Native Americans in the country. This is
followed by Maya, used by 14 percent of Native Americans, and Mixteco and Zapoteco, each spoken
by about seven percent of Native Americans. No other indigenous language is spoken by more than
five percent of Mexico's Native Americans.
. The family is at the centre of the social structure.
. Outside of the major cosmopolitan cities, families are still generally large.
. The extended family is as important as the nuclear family since it provides a sense of stability.
. Mexicans consider it their duty and responsibility to help family members. For example, the will help
find employment or finance a house or other large purchase.
. Most Mexican families are extremely traditional, with the father as the head, the authority figure and
the decision-maker.
. Mothers are greatly revered, but their role may be seen as secondary to that of their husband.
Mexican society and business are highly stratified and vertically structured.
. Mexicans emphasize hierarchical relationships.
. People respect authority and look to those above them for guidance and decision-making.
. Rank is important, and those above you in rank must always be treated with respect.
. This makes it important to know which person is in charge, and leads to an authoritarian approach
to decision-making and problem- solving.
. Mexicans are very aware of how each individual fits into each hierarchy--be it family, friends or
business.
. It would be disrespectful to break the chain of hierarchy. Machismo
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. Machismo literally means 'masculinity'.
. There are different outward behaviours to display machismo.
. For example, making remarks to women is a stereotypical sign of machismo and
should not be seen as harassment.
. Mexican males generally believe that nothing must be allowed to tarnish their image as
a man.
Mexican society and business are highly stratified and vertically structured.
. Mexicans emphasize hierarchical relationships.
. People respect authority and look to those above them for guidance and decisionmaking.
. Rank is important, and those above you in rank must always be treated with respect.
. This makes it important to know which person is in charge, and leads to an
authoritarian approach to decision-making and problem- solving.
. Mexicans are very aware of how each individual fits into each hierarchy--be it family,
friends or business.
. It would be disrespectful to break the chain of hierarchy.
'Machismo'
. Machismo literally means 'masculinity'.
. There are different outward behaviours to display machismo.
. For example, making remarks to women is a stereotypical sign of machismo and
should not be seen as harassment.
. Mexican males generally believe that nothing must be allowed to tarnish their image as
a man.
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. When greeting in social situations, women pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder, rather than shake hands
. Men shake hands until they know someone well, at which time they progress to the more traditional hug and back
slapping.
. Wait until invited before using a Mexican's first name
Gift Giving Etiquette
. If invited to a Mexican's house, bring a gift such as flowers or sweets.
. Gift wrapping does not follow any particular protocol.
. Do not give marigolds as they symbolize death.
. Do not give red flowers as they have a negative connotation.
. White flowers are a good gift as they are considered uplifting.
. Gifts are opened immediately.
. If you receive a gift, open it and react enthusiastically.
Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a Mexican's home:
. Arrive 30 minutes late in most places (check with colleagues to see if you should arrive later than that).
. Arriving on time or early is considered inappropriate.
. At a large party you may introduce yourself.
. At a smaller gathering the host usually handles the introductions.
Watch your table manners!
. Always keep your hands visible when eating. Keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table.
. When you have finished eating, place your knife and fork across your plate with the prongs facing down and the
handles facing to the right.
. Do not sit down until you are invited to and told where to sit.
. Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.
. Only men give toasts.
. It is polite to leave some food on your plate after a meal.
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In recent decades the European Union has been
seeking to identify and support common
European values, however this has turned out to
be a highly controversial issue. Some
commentators wish to classify social cohesion
and solidarity as European values and contrast
them with more individualist values in the
United States. The distinction is not a simple
one, but is perhaps most fundamentally
reflected in differing attitudes to government,
notably in terms of trust in the government.
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Language is a very important part of culture, and
Europe has a widespread variety of languages,
with most countries having at least one official
language. Russian is the largest language in
Europe, followed by German. Many regional
languages are also spoken, some enjoying a level
of official status or recognition. Other minority
languages are also spoken. The diversity on such a
small territory is proverbial. The European Union
alone uses 20 official languages, which all have the
same status. The cost of translation is so high that
the official language of the Union is an ongoing
debate, since many MEPs are bilingual and most
languages have a great level of prestige.
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European cuisine, or alternatively Western cuisine,is a generalised term collectively referring to
the cuisines of Europe and other Western countries. European cuisine or Western cuisine includes that
of Europe including (depending on the definition) that of Russia, as well as non-indigenous cuisines
of North America, Australasia, Philippines, Oceania, and Latin America, which derive substantial
influence from European settlers in those regions. The term is used by East Asians to contrast with
Asian styles of cooking. (This is analogous to Westerners referring collectively to the cuisines of East
Asian countries as Asian cuisine.) When used by Westerners, the term may sometimes refer more
specifically to cuisine in Europe or continental; in this context, a synonym is Continental cuisine,
especially in British English.
Grilled steak
Frites (french fries)
The cuisines of Western countries are diverse by themselves, although there are common
characteristics that distinguishes Western cooking from cuisines of Asian countriesnd others.
Compared with traditional cooking of Asian countries, for example, meat is more prominent and
substantial in serving-size. Steak in particular is a common dish across the West. Similarly to some
Asian cuisines, Western cuisines also put substantial emphasis on sauces as condiments, seasonings,
or accompaniments (in part due to the difficulty of seasonings penetrating the often larger pieces of
meat used in Western cooking). Many dairy products are utilised in the cooking process, except
in nouvelle cuisine. Wheat-flour bread has long been the most common sources of starch in this
cuisine, along with pasta,dumplings and pastries, although the potato has become a major starch
plant in the diet of Europeans and their diaspora since the European colonisation of the
Americas. Maize is much less common in most European diets than it is in the Americas; however
corn meal, or polenta, is a major part of the cuisine of Italy and the Balkans.
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China, one of the countries that can boast of an ancient civilization, has a
long and mysterious history - almost 5,000 years of it! Like most other
great civilizations of the world, China can trace her culture back to a
blend of small original tribes which have expanded till they became the
great country we have today.
It is recorded that Yuanmou man is the oldest hominoid in China and the
oldest dynasty is Xia Dynasty. From the long history of China, there
emerge many eminent people that have contributed a lot to the
development of the whole country and to the enrichment of her history.
Among them, there are emperors like Li Shimin (emperor Taizong of the
Tang), philosophers like Confucius, great patriotic poets like Qu Yuan
and so on.
Chinese society has progressed through five major stages - Primitive
Society, Slave Society, Feudal Society, Semi-feudal and Semi-colonial
Society, and Socialist Society. The rise and fall of the great dynasties
forms a thread that runs through Chinese history, almost from the
beginning. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China on
October 1st, 1949, China has become a socialist society and become
stronger and stronger.
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With a profound history of over 4,000 years, Chinese tea is
regarded as an exquisite art form that requires sampling. Now it
has become the national drink and one of the three soft drinks in
the world (the other two are coffee and cocoa). It is from China
that the tea planting techniques, processing, drinking methods
and tea ceremony were directly or indirectly introduced to the
world. So China is regarded proudly as the hometown of tea. The
land can be divided into four tea growing regions: South China,
Southwestern China, and Yangtze River's north and south banks.
These vast tea planting areas widely grow various kinds of tea
trees. Different teas require different tea sets to infuse the best
flavor. Chinese tea sets mainly include teacup, teapot and tea
saucer. Their materials differ in porcelain, pottery, lacquer ware,
glass, bamboo and wooden fish stone. What's more, tea ceremony,
the soul of tea culture, is considered to be a good way to cultivate
the minds. Through infusing, appreciating and tasting tea, people
can nourish their inborn nature and promote friendship among
each other.
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Generally speaking, Chinese people do not have a strong religious
inclination but despite this the three main faiths have had a
considerable following. The fact that Confucianism is a
philosophy rather than religion meant that it became the orthodox
doctrine for Chinese intellectuals in the days of the feudalist
society. However, these intellectuals did not stick to their doctrine
as a believer clings to his belief. Someone summarized the true
attitude of Chinese intellectuals as - they followed the teachings of
Confucius and Mencius when they were successful but would
turn to Taoism when they were frustrated.
Many people say they are Buddhists yet have never read the
sutras. Most people will say they believe in gods, destiny, fate,
luck and an afterlife. Even so, on most occasions, rather than rely
on prayer, people will make decisions all by themselves or resort
to either family or friends for help. A visible human being is
considered far more reliable than invisible gods or spirits.
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Lao or Laotian is the official language of Laos. It is the
primary language of the Lao people, and is also spoken in the northeast
of Thailand, where it is referred to as Isan language.
As most ethnic groups in Laos have their own dialects, Lao is an
important second language for them as a central language to
communicate with outsiders. There are variations in vocabulary,
pronunciation and accent throughout the country.
Lao belongs to Tai-Kadai language family. Its written form was derived
fromTham script which evolved from Pali language that initiated in India.
The script was brought to the region by Theravada Buddhists at the time
that Buddhism was growing in popularity around two thousand years
ago.
The Buddhist monks used the Tham script to write the Dhamma (the
Buddha's teaching). It was only taught to novices and monks in temples
and that is why in the past only men (ex-monks) knew how to read and
write. Today the Thamstill exists in Laos and northeastern Thailand.
Through the years, adjustments were made to the script and it was used
for Lao writing. And through various orthographic reforms, Lao script
has gradually been developed into what it is today.
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Another daily favourite is noodle soup (called feu also spelt pho) which is a hearty soup
incorporating meat, noodles and vegetables. Don’t be surprised if when ordering your
noodle soup, a huge plate of local salad vegetables arrives at the same time, together
with a range of sauces and condiments.
Lao noodle soup
Although Lao cuisine has many influences, such as Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and
French, when talking about Laos food, most people who know Laos or have been to
Laos would know laap (sometimes spelt laab orlarp).
Laap is a dish that is particular to Laos and is often served on special occasions such
as weddings, Baci ceremoniesor other celebrations as in Lao language laap means luck or
good fortune. However you will find it served in every good Lao restaurant around
the country.
Laap is made from chopped or thinly sliced meat or fish that is mixed with lime juice,
fish sauce, mint, coriander, spring onion, chili and uncooked rice grains that have been
dry fried and crushed. It is usually accompanied by vegetablesincluding eggplant, fresh
chilies, mustard leaves and lettuce. It can be eaten with ordinary rice or sticky rice and is
usually eaten with fish/meat soup depending on the main ingredient being used.
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The official Lao history is conventionally traced to the establishment of the kingdom
of Lan Xang by King Fa Ngum in 1353. However the earlier inhabitation of the land by
peoples such as the Mon kingdom of Dvaravati andProto-Khmer peoples was given a
great deal of emphasis in the histories of Laos written during the French colonial period.
It is generally assumed that, as late as the 16th century, King Photisarathhelped
establish Theravada Buddhism as the predominant religion of thecountry.
Statue of King Fa Ngum
In the 17th century Lan Xang entered a period of decline and the late 18th century Siam
(nowThailand) established control over much of what is now Laos. The region was
divided into three dependent states centered on Luang Prabang in the north, Vientiane
in thecenter, and Champassak in the south. The Vientiane Lao rebelled in 1828 but were
defeated, and the area was incorporated into Siam. Following its occupation
of Vietnam,France absorbed Laos into French Indochina via treaties with Siam in 1893
and 1904.
During World War II, the Japaneseoccupied French Indochina. When Japan
surrendered, Lao nationalists declared Laos independent, but by early 1946, French
troops had reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos. During
the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Partyformed the Pathet
Lao resistance organisation committed to Lao independence. Laos gained full
independence following the French defeat by the Vietnamese communists and the
subsequent Geneva peace conference in 1954.
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The Thai language is comprised of 44 consonants,
32 vowels and five tones in Thai pronunciation,
along with a script that has Indian origins. The
Thai language, belonging to the Tai family, is the
main language in Thailand although there are
several regional dialects as well. Other languages
spoken in Thailand are Chinese, Lao, Malay and
Mon-Khmer, while English use is becoming more
prevalent in government and commerce. English is
also being taught as a second language in
secondary school and universities, which enables
the English speaking visitor in Thailand to have
little trouble conversing.
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. The family is the cornerstone of Thai society.
. Family life is often more closely knit than in
western cultures.
. The Thai family is a form of hierarchy with
the parents at the top.
. Children are taught to honour their parents.
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. A fork and spoon are the usual eating utensils. However, noodles
are often eaten with chopsticks.
. The spoon is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. The
fork is used to guide food on to the spoon. Sticky rice, a northern
Thai delicacy, is often eaten with the fingers of the right hand.
. Most meals are served as buffets or with serving platters in the
centre of the table family- style.
. You may begin eating as soon as you are served.
. Leave a little food on your plate after you have eaten to show
that you are full. Finishing everything indicates that you are still
hungry.
. Never leave rice on your plate as it is considered wasteful. The
words for food and rice are the same. Rice has an almost mystical
significance in addition to its humdrum 'daily bread' function.
. Never take the last bite from the serving bowl.
. Wait to be asked before taking a second helping.
. Do not lick your fingers.
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I decided go with culture because I wanted to go
more about different cultures and I wanted to
Know about their religion ,customs, food, history
so I decide that culture would give more
information about it. It was not easy to decided
which countries I would choose since I love all the
countries.