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Major Components of Culture

The document discusses the major components of culture including gestures, language, values, norms, sanctions, folkways, and mores. It provides examples for each component from Filipino culture. Gestures like lip pointing and mano have specific meanings. The Filipino language and values of hospitality and respect for elders are highlighted. Norms include standing for the national anthem and offering food to guests. Sanctions include corporal punishment of children and death penalty in some cultures. Folkways include customs like pamamanhikan and bayanihan. Mores disapprove of polygamy and require removing shoes in homes. The roles of daughter and student can conflict due to responsibilities but require balancing time.

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J Mendoza
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221 views3 pages

Major Components of Culture

The document discusses the major components of culture including gestures, language, values, norms, sanctions, folkways, and mores. It provides examples for each component from Filipino culture. Gestures like lip pointing and mano have specific meanings. The Filipino language and values of hospitality and respect for elders are highlighted. Norms include standing for the national anthem and offering food to guests. Sanctions include corporal punishment of children and death penalty in some cultures. Folkways include customs like pamamanhikan and bayanihan. Mores disapprove of polygamy and require removing shoes in homes. The roles of daughter and student can conflict due to responsibilities but require balancing time.

Uploaded by

J Mendoza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Major Components of Culture

1. Gestures are movements that people make in order to communicate with their
bodies. All cultures use gestures. Two cultures may use the same gesture, but it may
have different meanings in both cultures.
Examples :
 Lip Pointing us one of the unique gestures Filipinos do when telling
directions or pointing out things.
 Mano or Pagmamano as a sign of respect to the elders.

2. Language consists of written and spoken words that we use to communicate with
each other. Each word can be thought of as a symbol to which the culture gives a
specific meaning.

Examples :
 The Filipino/Tagalog is the language that every citizen of the Philippines use
to communicate with each other.
 The word “Maparas” for bataenos means spicy or “maanghang” in different
dialect.

3. Values refer to a set of standards by which people define what is ethical in a society
and what is not.
Examples :
 The Filipinos are known for the value haspitality. They received guest very
well, making sure to use the best utensils in the cabinet for the visitors.
 The Filipino culture value the respect for elderlies, as compare to other
cultures that elders are being sent to home for the ages, Filipinos value
respect and intend to keep and took care of their families until death.

4. Norms are set standards for how to behave in any given situation.
Examples :
 When the Philippine Anthem is played, every Filipino is taught
that we should stop walking and stand at attention(right hand
placed in the chest) until it finishes.

 Filipinos offer you to partake of their food when you happen to


chance upon them eating. This is done out of courtesy and you
can politely decline and they won’t be offended.
5. Sanctions refer to positive or negative reactions to people's actions that are based
on norms and values. Sanctions are mechanisms that are used to control behaviors.
Examples :
 Kids in the Philippines receive “palo” (mostly in the butt part) when
being disciplined.
 Other culture especially in the middle east, provides death penalty
sanctions following their strict religious belief.

6. Folkways are informal standards of behavior that do not have serious moral
consequences.
Examples :
 Pamamanhikan- which is thefilipino way of asking for the girl’s
parents’ permission to wed the affianced pair. The custom symbolizes
honor and respect for the parents, seeking their blessing and approval
before getting married)
 Bayanihan- (Filipino term taken from the word bayan, referring to a
nation, town or community. The whole term bayanihan refers to a
spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective)

7. Mores are highly important norms that are based on morality.


Examples :
 In the Philippine culture, where Christianity dominates polygamy is
looked down upon as a disgrace.
 In India, you're expected to keep your footwear outside before
entering a house or any place of worship. There are some business
places and stores too where visitors might be requested to keep their
footwear outside.
Through the years the folkways that I have learned and adopted from our hometown
somehow adopted also the changes happening in the society. For one, the custom of saying
“po”and “opo” to respect elders has adopted few changes. Since Filipinos have strong family
ties/bonds, sometimes we are being too close with our parents/relatives that we forgot to
answer or respond to them with the courtesy of “po”and “opo”.
As with many Asian countries, removal of shoes is customary when entering someone's
home. By doing this the visitors shows his/her respect for the family and their home, as
well as having basic courtesy. But since society has change and have already become
modernized, some homes/homeowners in our hometown will not require you to take your
shoes off telling you the floor is dirty anyway .The way we dress especially when attending
the mass also changed. Back then we were always told to wear simple dresses when going
to church while comparing now, our parents have allowed us to wear jeans or shirts
instead.

Being a Daughter and a Student

Being a daughter has become my role since the day I was born. Similarly I have been
studying and become a student since I was four. With these two roles that I played, I have
encountered few conflicts and strains. As a daughter, I have to do basic household choirs. I
have to help with the cleaning, cooking and washing. But then as a student, I also have
papers to submit, deadlines to meet and requirements to pass. Juggling your time for these
two roles is quiet hard. Sometimes my parents would ask me errands to do while I am
doing some paper works for school. I would ask for few minutes and try to finish my paper
faster but in the end I will be scolded and ask to do what they told first. There are few times
that I have missed family events because I am at school or I have deadlines to meet, As a
daughter I wish to join those events yet I have to attend my classes. With this conflicts and
strains I have learned to manage my time and schedule so that I can balance my role as a
family member and as a student.

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