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Culture Forum

Culture Forum

Date: Oct 26 2013

Topic: Conversational English

Author: englishteacher24/7

Lesson

A. Forum goals:

  • Provide information on other cultures from the readers.
  • Identify the relationships between culture and language.
  • Provide information on English-speaking cultures to develop an understanding of the English language used in a particular country.

B. Introduction:

  • Cultural influence - Culture has a direct influence on the language(s) used in society. Learning the culture of a society can identify some general characteristics of its people.
  • Cultural factors - Factors such as religion, economics, traditions, customs, natural resources, and politics influences culture.
  • Benefits of learning other cultures - Information about other cultures can help us to understand why people of a society do the things they do, even within the same country. Therefore, let us use this opportunity to learn from each other and seek to improve ourselves.

Comments

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WobblyJoe

WobblyJoe

United States

My answer to Hatamian is yes, it is the central point of our existence.

08:13 PM Jan 10 2014 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Hello HappyLinda, you have made a good point in people having faith. Does it matter what the faith is in or is having faith in faith sufficient?

08:07 PM Jan 10 2014 |

happyLinda

happyLinda

China

People must have a faith.

06:18 AM Jan 08 2014 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

BillieJean2, you have expressed yourself in English very well concerning your personal beliefs on the subject of religion. Your comments is a good lead into the question that Hatamian asked, which is:


Do you think religion is very important for people?


Let’s hear from those who will respond concerning this question.

11:28 PM Jan 07 2014 |

BillieJean2

Iran, Islamic Republic Of


  • Well let me say that there is always a possibility to taka advantage of religions.



  • I’m not OK with this whole thing that some one else tell me how to live how to feel how to do what to do or other stuff…….


In fact if we try to think logically it is not important what people believe in or what people worship. It doesn’t make any difference.
Some times I ask myself what if it is all made basically to fool people. What if it was only human idea?
There is only one answer for that: you should always keep quiet and keep your idea to yourself (because religious people will get mad at you) and respect to others religion and if some one ever tries to fool you by religions then you should use your head and do not let them to take advantage of these things.



  • If some people negatively or positively use the bible or Quran or every other religious book it doesn’t mean that the book is bad or good.


I always talk with the people in the different religions and ask about their holly book and pick good moral ideas for me.
There is always something good and positive behind every religion for example:
When I was learning about Zoroastrianism I thought what a crazy idea to worship fire as a God. but then I found out that such a great idea it is to purify our heart and mind and then we will do good things we will help people in need we will act nice to every one not because we are Zoroastrian but because we are human ,a human with an open heart and mind.



  • When this Rigi guy killed people in Iran every one in the house said Oh my God he is a Muslim guy that we are showing to the world but I said no he is a sick guy its not about his religion.


Of course there are people in there that bible influenced them in a good way and of course there might be people who use it in a bad way but I think it is their bad or good nature that influenced them.
If you feed a dog he will think you are his God and if you feed a cat he probably think that he is your god. Its in their nature other wise the cat and the dog are both cute lovely animals.



  • After all this text above I’m trying to say no one need to be influenced by something magically or some thing divine we only should try to be human and live like a good human.


And take this strong advice from me
If some one is trying to find a description for a good human and bad human he or she is trying to inject his or her idea into your brain and force you to think like he or she want you to think.
Because we all know what is A good human.
 
For god sake believe me( I’m addressing girls in Iran specially you Sahar I know you would like this later) you are not bad because you have boyfriend you are not bad because you do not pray you are just a girl like every other girl in the world don’t let them treat you like you have done a crime .
 
Long text
 Sorry

02:15 PM Jan 07 2014 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

The influence of the Bible on US culture has been used for both positive and negative behavior. Some people and groups have used the Bible as an association instrument to advance their own ideologies. Please be aware of this conflict of interest. 

02:15 PM Jan 06 2014 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Easypeasy asked me to explain how the Bible influences US Culture?


Well, I’ll try my best to answer this question.


Introduction 


The Bible (also known as “The Good Book”) has influenced US culture in many direct and indirect ways. The Bible does not have a monopoly on human experiences; however, it can be verified to have had a major influence on US culture. For example, it teaches the concept of “forgiveness” as spoken by Jesus in the passage, “But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father (God) forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15) In American culture, forgiving others is not unusual.


Another biblical concept that is embraced by American culture is that of compassion (helping someone who is suffering). Consider these words from the Bible: “If anyone has material possession and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)


In 2011 Americans gave approximately $298 billion dollars to charity, not including the value of donated time to charitable causes. This represents an increase over previous years despite a bad economy. Some homeless people will stand on a corner with a “Please help…” sign and is likely to receive enough money to eat and more. A common response from them after receiving money is “God bless you” possibly associating the benevolence with the mandates from the Bible.


Last, but not least is the greatest concept from the Bible, that is, “Love.” This message is summed up in what is referred to as the “Golden Text” of the Bible which states: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 – King James Version)


This concept is the basis for the previous concepts that influenced American Culture. Let’s look at some other areas:



  • American Public Education - Mandatory tuition free education was mandated by law starting in 1642 in colonial Massachusetts for the purpose of teaching children to read and write so they would be able to read the Bible.

  • Naming babies - The Bible influences the naming of babies, many whose names are direct biblical names such as: Abraham, Aaron, Caesar, David, Dan, Daniel, John, Mark, Paul, Matthew, James, Peter, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Deborah, Julie, Martha, Rachel, Ruth and others.

  • Naming of places - Many cities and towns have used biblical names such as: Philadelphia, Mt. Zion, Carmel, Temple City, Joshua Tree, Bishop, Galilee, Nazareth, Calvary, and others.

  • Familiar Expressions - The Bible has influenced the language in everyday expressions, many have come directly from the Bible such as: Apple of his eye, blind leading the blind, eye for an eye, Good Samaritan, handwriting on the wall, my brother’s keeper, out of the mouth of babes, signs of the times, strait and narrow, sweat of your brow, thorn in the flesh, drop in the bucket, at your wits end, holier that thou, and others.

  • American Film - Some notable movie themes are stories from the Bible, such as: The Ten Commandments, The Passion of the Christ, King of Kings, The Bible, King David, Solomon, Moses, Ben Hur, Quo Vadis, and others. The most notable biblical theme is Good verses Evil where this theme is among the most profitable for movie producers, some movie examples are: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, Batman, Superman and others.

  • Judicial System - The Old Testament of the Bible influenced some US laws based on the Ten Commandments.

  • Financial System - US bankruptcy laws has some biblical principles and US money has “In God We Trust” printed on coins and paper money.

  • Calendar Method - The US and many countries use the Gregorian calendar which relates years to the period before Jesus Christ (BC) and after the death of Jesus Christ (AD-in the year of our Lord). Therefore, the year of 2014 means it’s been approximately 2,014 years since the death of Christ.

  • English Literature - Besides the religious aspect, the Bible contains some worthy English literature. It includes history, prose, drama, poetry, and prophecy in one book. Actually the Bible is not a continuous book but a collection of 66 books written by approximately 40 authors over a period of about 1,500 years.

  • The Bible as drama - Concerning drama stories, consider the scene of King David’s son Absalom who gains the hearts of the men of Israel and persuaded them to join him in turning against his father to ultimately take over as King of Israel. Upon receiving this information, David and his followers fled Jerusalem. Eventually there was a battle between King David’s followers and Absalom’s followers. But before the battle, David cautions his military captains to “deal gently” (not to harm) his son Absalom in battle. During the battle, Joab (one of David’s army captains who disliked Absalom) kills him; in the end, King David’s army defeats Absalom followers. News about the battle victory reached David and the first thing he asked was about the welfare of his son Absalom. The messenger told the King that he wished all of the king’s enemies were like Absalom. Here is a record of King David’s response to this news, “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee (you), O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:1-33 /King James Version).

  • You can sense the intense emotional grief of King David from this story and it’s the type of literature that lends itself for English content in books and movies.

  • There are many other stories from the Bible that are worthy as English literature and has influenced renowned English writers such as William Shakespeare, John Milton, John Bunyan and a host of American literature writers and movie producers.


Conclusion


The question posed by Easypeasy was “How has the Bible influenced American Culture?” I attempted to answer her question in a direct sense; however, there are indirect influences that are combined with other contributors that make up the diversity of American culture.


The Bible has several themes, the major themes are: The love of God for humanity, the forgiveness of sin, how to obtain everlasting life and how to avoid the final judgment. These themes and others have contributed to the American mindset in tangible and intangible ways, both in America and globally. 


The influence of the Bible on American Culture is evident; however, the principles can be used apart from the religious aspect and yield many benefits.


Here is a link to the Bible in various languages and in English.


http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/


I would like to thank Easypeasy for her question that prompted the writing of this article and thank you for your patience.

07:31 AM Jan 04 2014 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Hatamian, thanks for asking your question here, it will be answered after I post a response to Easypeasy’s question of how the Bible has influenced US culture, which is coming soon!

08:16 PM Dec 29 2013 |

hatamian

hatamian

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hi friends



I wish one of the best years for every one



congratulation



let me that commencing a new issue





Do you think religion is very important for human?



or no. you will be able to improve with your talent and thinking , so you dont need to have religion ? what do you think? pls

05:09 AM Dec 28 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Ana_sharma, your good contribution in sharing information on Indian culture is appreciated. It is beneficial for others to know some of the basics in your culture and helps us to improve inter-cultural relationships.

09:25 PM Dec 12 2013 |

ana_sharma

India

It’s Really a gud effort to bring an opportunity to provide information on one’s culture.


India-A land of diversities,  Its culture is often called amalgamation of several different cultures with so many languages,religions and traditions.


In India there are several ways of greeting others..Pressing hands together with a smile  is a common cultural practice in India.


Namastae (Hindi), Namaskar (Marathi) or Namaskara(kannada)or Namaskaram (Telugu), Vanakkam (Tamil),Nomoshkaar (Bangali),Nomoskar (Assamese) is a common spoken salutation.


In India Family is given priority.For generations, India has had a prevailing tradition of the joint family system. It is a system under which extended members of a family – parents, children, the children’s spouses and their offspring, etc. – live together. The head of the family  makes all important decisions and rules, and other family members abide by him.


For centuries, arranged marriages have been the tradition in Indian society. Even today, the majority of Indians have their marriages planned by their parents and other respected family-members. Indian culture is trending away from traditional arranged marriages


 Hindi is the most spoken language in India along with Bengali, Telugu, Marathi,Tamil and Urdu..  English is the official language of India .Indian accents vary greatly. Some Indians speak English with an accent very close to a Standard British (Received Pronunciation) accent (though not the same); others lean toward a more ‘vernacular’, native-tinted, accent for their English speech.


Most Indians have the trap-bath split of Received pronunciation.A number of distinctive features of Indian English are due to “the vagaries of English spelling”. Most Indian languages, unlike English, have a nearly phonetic pronunciation with respect to their script, so the spelling of a word is a highly reliable guide to its modern pronunciation.


It’s Boundaries stretching from the frozen summits of the Himalayas to the tropical greenery of Kerala, It just isn’t possible to see everything in a single expedition, even if you spent a year trying.But  Delhi, the colonial capital; Agra, home of the Taj Mahal; and the Pink City of Jaipur in Rajasthan are main places visited by travellers.Rajasthan is probably the single most popular state with travellers, who are drawn by its desert scenery, the imposing medieval forts and palaces of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Bundi, and by the colourful traditional dress.


 


You Are Welcome To India.                                                      



 

04:58 AM Dec 12 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Update to Easypeasy’s request. The next post on how the Bible has influenced US culture is on the cooker and will be posted soon as it is completed. Thanks for your patience.

06:00 PM Dec 11 2013 |

1 person likes this

englishteacher24/7

United States

Easypeasy your request is a good one and I will be delighted to write a post on how the Bible has influenced US culture.


However, I will have to do it after I answer the question on the “Do You Understand The Dialogue?” lesson. Stay tuned and thanks for asking, you are a very thinking person!

12:51 AM Nov 24 2013 |

easypeasy

easypeasy

Germany

Mr. Alston, you mentioned that the Bible has influenced US culture, 


could you tell me please how? 


Best regards! 

09:23 PM Nov 23 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Odyssee, usually the school name will have “College” or “University” as part of the school name. For example, “Harvard University” or “Dartmouth College.”  Sometimes it will have “Institute” such as, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


The main thing is that the school prepares you and serves your educational needs, also, that the course credits will be transferrable and the school is accredited.

08:54 PM Nov 14 2013 |

Odyssee

Odyssee

China

oh according to the below comments, i think i graduated from univesity not college .

03:05 PM Nov 14 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Lesya, my vocabulary list that you requested is coming, thanks for your patience.


Nanik, colleges generally do not offer a graduate school (over 4 year degrees) level of education, therefore, the professors probably want to maintain a difference between college and university.


Easypeasy, it is good for you to have an understanding about college and university, thanks for your feedback.

03:37 PM Nov 12 2013 |

1 person likes this

easypeasy

easypeasy

Germany

Mr. Alston, thank you for answering my question, now it’s more clear for me:)

08:00 AM Nov 12 2013 |

Nanexsa

Nanexsa

Indonesia

Mr Alston,


Regarding your response about the difference between a college and university,


Does college has same meaning with faculty ?


and I think so ,

01:16 AM Nov 12 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Easypeasy, you have asked an excellent question concerning the difference between a college and university.


In the US, these terms can be used interchangeably and basically refers to higher education after high school in college or university.


Technically, a college specializes in a specific area of education, such as a college of business, college of engineering, college of pharmacy, etc.


A university is a collection of colleges where you can major in various areas of education.


Because there is a lot of overlap between the two, people do not focus on the technical differences. For example, a college can have many separate schools of learning on the same campus, so you could call it a university.


In other countries, this may not be as it is in the US.


WobblyJoe, I want to thank you for providing the good information concerning accreditation, it is very important for students to do their research concerning this matter. It would be an unfortunate situation to attend school and not have the education recognized.


http://www.internationalstudent.com/study_usa/


Here is an information link for international students considering educational opportunities in the US.

08:52 PM Nov 11 2013 |

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