Page 19 - Communication across Cultures

Chapter 1 Culture

As we peel back the layers, we delve into deeper aspects of culture, such as values,
beliefs, customs, traditions, and social norms. These aspects shape the behaviors, atti-
tudes, and interactions of individuals within a society.
Just like peeling an onion, exploring culture requires going beyond the surface to
understand the core beliefs and values that underpin a society. Each layer provides a
deeper insight into the complexity and richness of a culture.
It’s also important to note that culture is not static. It evolves and adapts over time,
influenced by historical events, migration, globalization, technology, and other factors.

1.2 Definition of Culture

Culture has been defined in hundreds of ways over the years. Each of these defi-
nitions highlights different aspects of culture and many of the definitions even conflict
with each other.
According to The Concise Oxford Dictionary, culture is “the arts and other mani-
festations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively”. It refers to intel-
lectual perspectives, such as music, art, exhibition, dance, etc.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, culture is “the ideas, customs, and social be-
haviour of a particular people or society”. It can also refer to the appreciation and pro-
motion of the arts and other intellectual achievements, such as literature, music, theatre,
and visual arts. Culture is often considered a defining aspect of a community or group,

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