Chinese Culture

A dragon dance celebrates the temple at Foshan, China.

China is an extremely large country, and the customs and traditions of its people vary by geography and
ethnicity.
More than 1 billion people live in China, according to the Asia Society, representing 56 ethnic minority
groups. The largest group is the Han Chinese, with about 900 million people. Other groups include the
Tibetans, the Mongols, the Manchus, the Naxi, and the Hezhen, which is smallest group, with fewer than
2,000 people.
"Significantly, individuals within communities create their own culture," said Cristina De Rossi, an
anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London. Culture includes religion, food, style, language,
marriage, music, morals and many other things that make up how a group acts and interacts. Here is a brief
overview of some elements of the Chinese culture.
Chinese Language
There are seven major groups of dialects of the Chinese language, which each have their own variations,
according to Mount Holyoke College. Mandarin dialects are spoken by 71.5 percent of the population,
followed by Wu (8.5 percent), Yue (also called Cantonese; 5 percent), Xiang (4.8 percent), Min (4.1
percent), Hakka (3.7 percent) and Gan (2.4 percent).
Chinese dialects are very different, according to Jerry Norman, a former professor of linguistics at the
University of Washington and author of "Chinese (Cambridge Language Surveys)" (Cambridge University
Press, 1988). "Chinese is rather more like a language family than a single language made up of a number
of regional forms," he wrote. "The Chinese dialectal complex is in many ways analogous to the Romance
language family in Europe. To take an extreme example, there is probably as much difference between the
dialects of Peking [Beijing] and Chaozhou as there is between Italian and French."
The official national language of China is Pŭtōnghuà, a type of Mandarin spoken in the capital Beijing,
according to the Order of the President of the People's Republic of China. Many Chinese are also fluent in
English.
Chinese Food
Like other aspects of Chinese life, cuisine is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity. Among
the main styles of Chinese cooking are Cantonese, which features stir-fried dishes, and Szechuan, which
relies heavily on use of peanuts, sesame paste and ginger and is known for its spiciness.
Rice is not only a major food source in China; it is also a major element that helped grow their society,
according to "Pathways to Asian Civilizations: Tracing the Origins and Spread of Rice and Rice Cultures,"
an 2011 article in the journal Rice by Dorian Q. Fuller. The Chinese word for rice is fan, which also means
"meal," and it is a staple of their diet, as are bean sprouts, cabbage and scallions. Because they do not
consume a lot of meat — occasionally pork or chicken — tofu is a main source of protein for the Chinese.

Chinese Greetings
In China, a handshake or a simple and kind salutation is a common greeting form. Differently,
many western countries accept hugs and kisses as a popular form although a handshake is still the formal
way when greeting people.
Culture of Japan
The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric time Jōmon
period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia, Europe, and North America. Strong
Chinese influences are still evident in traditional Japanese culture as China had historically been a regional
powerhouse, which has resulted in Japan absorbing many elements of Chinese culture first through Korea, then later
through direct cultural exchanges with China. The inhabitants of Japan experienced a long period of relative isolation
from the outside world during the Tokugawa shogunate after Japanese missions to Imperial China, until the arrival of
"The Black Ships" and the Meiji period.

Language
Japanese is the official and primary language of Japan. Japanese is relatively small[citation needed] but has a lexically
distinct pitch-accent system. Early Japanese is known largely on the basis of its state in the 8th century, when the three
major works of Old Japanese were compiled. The earliest attestation of the Japanese language is in a Chinese
document from 252 AD.

Japanese is written with a combination of three scripts: hiragana, derived from the Chinese cursive script,katakana,
derived as a shorthand from Chinese characters, and kanji, imported from China. The Latin alphabet, rōmaji, is also
often used in modern Japanese, especially for company names and logos, advertising, and when inputting Japanese
into a computer. The Hindu-Arabic numerals are generally used for numbers, but traditional Sino-Japanese
numerals are also very common.

Japanese cuisine/Food
Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through
centuries of social and economic changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (和食 washoku) is based on rice with miso
soup and other dishes; there is an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Side dishes often consist of fish, pickled
vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth.Seafood is common, often grilled, but also served raw as sashimi or
in sushi. Seafood and vegetables are also deep-fried in a light batter, as tempura. Apart from rice, staples include
noodles, such as soba and udon. Japan also has many simmered dishes such as fish products in broth called oden, or
beef in sukiyaki and nikujaga. Foreign food—in particular Chinese food like ramen, fried dumplings, and gyōza—as
well as foods like curry and hamburgers are commonly found in Japan. Historically, the Japanese shunned meat, but
with the modernization of Japan in the 1880s, meat-based dishes such as tonkatsu became common. Japanese cuisine,
particularly sushi, has become popular throughout the world. In 2011, Japan overtook France in number ofMichelin-
starred restaurants and has maintained the title since.

Japanese Greetings
Greetings like “good morning” or “good afternoon” are incredibly important in Japanese. As the
Japanese culture is more formal, going through the ritual of greeting another person is an important way of
showing respect. Japanese tend to bow while saying “Ohayō gozaimasu”, “Konnichiwa” or “Konbanwa”
depending on the time of the day. Bows can be divided into informal-15 degree angle, formal-30 degree
angle, and very formal, deeper angle bows. You are expected to greet every person individually, even if
they’re in a group. That means that if you’re walking along the road and pass a group of five people, you’ll
have to say, “Konnichiwa,” and bow five times!
Italian Culture
Italian culture is steeped in the arts, family, architecture, music and food. Home of the Roman Empire and
a major center of the Renaissance, culture on the Italian peninsula has flourished for centuries. Here is a
brief overview of Italian customs and traditions. Culture of Italy. Italy is considered the birthplace of
Western civilization and a cultural superpower.Italy has been the starting point of phenomena of
international impact such as the Magna Graecia, the Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church, the
Renaissance, the Risorgimento and the European integration.

Languages of Italy
The official language of the country is Italian. About 93 percent of the Italian population speaks Italian as
native language, according to the BBC. There are a number of dialects of the language spoken in the
country, including Sardinian, Friulian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Ligurian, Piedmontese, Venetian and
Calabrian. Milanese is also spoken in Milan. Other languages spoken by native Italians include Albanian,
Bavarian, Catalan, Cimbrian, Corsican, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Slovenian and Walser.

Italian cuisine/Food
Italian cuisine is food typical of or originating from Italy. It has developed through centuries of social and
political changes, with roots stretching to antiquity.[1]
Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World and the introduction
of potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize, now central to the cuisine but not introduced in quantity until the
18th century.[2][3] Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity, especially between the north and the south of
the Italian peninsula.[4][5][6] It offers an abundance of taste, and is one of the most popular in the world.[7] It
influenced several cuisines around the world chiefly that of the United States.[8]
Italian cuisine is characterized by its simplicity, with many dishes having only four to eight ingredients.[9] Italian
cooks rely chiefly on the quality of the ingredients rather than on elaborate preparation.[10] Ingredients and dishes
vary by region. Many dishes that were once regional, have proliferated with variations throughout the country.
Cheese and wine are a major part of the cuisine, with many variations and Denominazione di origine
controllata (DOC) (regulated appellation) laws. Coffee, specifically espresso, has become a staple element of
Italian cuisine.
ITALIAN GREETINGS AND GOOD-BYES
When traveling in Italy, you’ll find that the words and phrases you use most frequently will be the
common Italian greetings. The words and phrases will quickly become second nature as you use them
day in and day out with everyone you come across.
SAYING HELLO AND GOOD-BYE
As you’d expect, you should use a polite greeting when you run into someone you know or want to
know. But in most Italy it is important to use the correct greeting depending on who you are greeting. So, you
would use a different word for greeting your friend than you would for greeting your boss or teacher.
The most common ways to say greet someone in Italian are:
 Ciao (hello; hi [Informal])
Ciao! is the most common way of saying hello and goodbye informally. You should never use it with
someone like a boss or a teacher or anyone else with whom you’re using Lei (the formal version of
you).
 Salve! (Hi; Bye [Formal/Informal])
 Che piacere vederti! (How nice it is to see you! [Informal])
 Buongiorno! (Hello; Good morning; Goodbye [Formal])
 Buona sera! (Hello; Good evening; Goodbye [Formal])
Use the longer Buon giorno and Buona sera in more formal situations, like when you enter a store.
Culture of Iceland
The culture of Iceland is rich and varied as well as being known for its literary heritage which began
in the 12th century. Other Icelandic traditional arts include weaving,silversmithing, and wood carving.
The Reykjavík area has several professional theatres, a symphony orchestra, an opera, and a large number of art
galleries, bookstores, cinemas, and museums. There are also four active folk dance ensembles in Iceland.
Iceland's literacy rate is among the highest in the world, and a love of literature, art, chess, and other intellectual
pursuits is widespread. Iceland is the size of Ohio.

Iceland Cuisine/Food
Iceland offers wide varieties of traditional cuisine. Þorramatur (food of the þorri) is the Icelandic national food.
Nowadays þorramatur is mostly eaten during the ancient Nordic month of þorri, in January and February, as a
tribute to old culture. Þorramatur consists of many different types of food. These are mostly offal dishes like
pickled ram's testicles, putrefied shark, singed sheep heads, singed sheep head jam, black pudding, liver
sausage (similar to Scottish haggis) and dried fish (often cod or haddock) with or without butter.

Much of the cuisine centres on Iceland's fishing industry. Traditional dishes

include Hákarl (putrefied shark), gravlax (salmon marinated
insalt and dill), hangikjöt (smoked lamb), hrútspungar (pickled ram's testicles), and slátur (sausages made
from sheep entrails). A popular food is skyr made of cultured skim milk, in the summer time it may be served
with bilberries as a dessert. Brennivin is an Icelandic liquormade from potatoes and caraway.
Coffee is favored as a beverage and may be served at afternoon break called kaffi in Icelandic.[7]

Language
The principal language of Iceland is Icelandic, a highly inflected North
Germanic language. Danish and English are also taught in schools. Linguistic purism is strongly supported in
Iceland in an attempt to prevent loanwords from entering the language. Instead, neologisms are coined from
Icelandic roots, creating a compound word to describe new concepts. It is often the case that old words which
are no longer used are recycled with a new meaning. It should be noted, however, that some loanwords persist
in Icelandic, and many more, the majority anglicisms, are used in everyday speech.

Icelandic: Different greetings for different situations

I know there are many different Icelandic greetings (Halló, Hæ, Sæl, Góðdan daginn, Hvernig hefur þú það?, etc.),
but I am not really sure which one of these is best to use in a given situation.

 I run into a friend/acquaintance (e.g. in the hallway at school) and I want to say something quick and
informal (something like "Hey, what's up?" or "Hey, how's it going?" in American English).
 One of my friends introduces me to one of his friends and I say hi to this person for the first time ("Hi, nice
to meet you.").
 I walk into a shop and say hi to the shopkeeper whom I don't know (just to be polite).
 I meet an old friend whom I haven't seen in a long time. I know that things have been rough for him lately
and I want to ask sincerely something sincere like: "Hi John, how are you doing? How is everything? How
are things going for you these days?"

Finally, I am wondering if there are more informal greetings used in Icelandic that wouldn't appear in a
textbook? If I think of English, for example, I know that in real life we often use greetings that wouldn't be
mentioned in a beginner's textbook (and the greetings students do learn are often too formal or "stiff").
Culture of Nigeria

The culture of Nigeria is shaped by Nigeria's multiple ethnic groups. The country has 527 languages, seven
of them are extinct.[1]Nigeria also has over 1150 dialects and ethnic groups. The four largest ethnic groups
are the Hausa and Fulani in the north, the Igboin the southeast, and the Yoruba predominate in the
southwest. Nigeria's other ethnic group, sometimes called 'minorities', are found throughout the country but
especially in the north and the middle belt. The traditionally nomadic Fulani can be found all over West
and Central Africa. The Fulani and the Hausa are predominantly Muslim while the Igbo are predominantly
Christian and so are the Efik, Ibibio, and Annang people. The Yoruba are equally likely to be either
Christian or Muslim. Indigenous religious practices remain important to all of Nigeria's ethnic groups, and
frequently these beliefs are blended with Christian beliefs, a practice known as syncretism

Food
Nigerian food offers a rich blend of traditionally African carbohydrates such as yam and cassava as well as
the vegetable soups with which they are often served. Maize is another crop that is commonly grown in
Nigeria.[6] Praised by Nigerians for the strength it gives, garri is "the number one staple carbohydrate food
item in Nigeria"[7] a powderedcassava grain that can be readily eaten as a meal and is quite inexpensive.
Yams are frequently fried either fried in oil or pounded to make a mashed potato-like yam pottage. Nigerian
beans, quite different from green peas, are widely popular. Meat is also popular and Nigerian suya—a
barbecue-like roasted meat—is a well-known delicacy. Bush meat, meat from wild game
like antelope and giraffes, is also popular. Fermented palm products make a traditional liquor, palm wine,
and also fermented cassava. Nigerian foods are spicy, mostly in the western and southern part of the country,
even more so than in Indian cuisine. Some more examples of their traditional dishes are eba, pounded
yam, iyan,fufu and soups like okra, ogbono and egusi. Fufu is so emblematic of Nigeria that it figures
in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, for example. Achebe's magnum opus is the most widely read book
in modern African literature.

Languages of Nigeria
There are over 520 languages spoken in Nigeria.[1][2] The official language of Nigeria, English, the
former colonial language, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country.
Communication in the English language is much more popular in the country's urban communities than it
is in the rural areas (which comprise about three quarters of the country's population).
The other major languages are Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Urhobo, Ibibio, Edo, Fulfulde and Kanuri. Nigeria's
linguistic diversity is a microcosm of much of Africa as a whole, and the country contains languages from
the three major African languages families:Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger–Congo. Nigeria also
has several as-yet unclassified languages, such as Centúúm, which may represent a relic of an even greater
diversity prior to the spread of the current language families.

Nigerian Greetings

It is amazing how easily the word “Hello” is disregarded, yet it is one of the most frequently used and
meaningful word in our lives. The moment we pick up the phone, to the moment we meet someone for the
first time and even when starting a conversation…it is the first words we use. It doesn’t matter how we say
it or in what form or language we say it with, it generally helps us build courage and confidence in new
environments.
Culture of Canada
The artistic, culinary, literary, humour, musical, political and social elements that are representative of
Canada and Canadians. Throughout Canada's history, its culture has been influenced by European culture and
traditions, especially British and French, and by its own indigenous cultures.[1] Over time, elements of the
cultures of Canada's immigrant populations have become incorporated into mainstream Canadian culture.[1][2] The
population has also been influenced byAmerican culture because of a shared language, proximity, television and
migration between the two countries. Canada is often characterized as being "very progressive, diverse,
and multicultural".[5] Canada's federal government has often been described as the instigator of multicultural
ideology because of its public emphasis on the social importance of immigration.[6]Canada's culture draws from
its broad range of constituent nationalities, and policies that promote a just society are constitutionally
protected.[7] Canadian Government policies—such as publicly funded health care; higher and more progressive
taxation; outlawingcapital punishment; strong efforts to eliminate poverty; an emphasis on cultural diversity;
strict gun control; and most recently, legalizing same-sex marriage—are social indicators of Canada's political
and cultural values.[8] Canadians identify with the country's institutions of health care, military peacekeeping,
the National park system and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Cuisine
Canadian cuisine varies widely depending on the region. The former Canadian prime minister Joe
Clark has been paraphrased to have noted: "Canada has a cuisine of cuisines. Not a stew pot, but a
smorgasbord."[169] There are considerable overlaps between Canadian food and the rest of the cuisine in
North America, many unique dishes (or versions of certain dishes) are found and available only in the
country. Common contenders for the Canadian national food include poutine[170][171][172] and butter
tarts.[173][174] Other popular Canadian made foods include indigenous fried bread bannock,
French tourtière, Kraft Dinner, ketchup chips, date squares, and the caesar cocktail.[175]Canada is the birthplace
and world's largest producer of maple syrup.[176] The three earliest cuisines of Canada have First Nations,
English, and French roots, with the traditional cuisine of English Canada closely related
toBritish and American cuisine, while the traditional cuisine of French Canada has evolved from French
cuisine and the winter provisions of fur traders.[177] With subsequent waves of immigration in the 18th and
19th century from Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, and then from Asia, Africa and Caribbean, the
regional cuisines were subsequently augmented.[177] The Jewish immigrants to Canada during the late 1800s
also play a significant role to foods in Canada. The Montreal-style bagel and Montreal-style smoked meat are
both food items originally developed by Jewish communities living in Montreal.
LANGUAGE IN CANADA
The official languages spoken in Canada are English and French, although there are many more English speakers than
French. There are more than 60 Aboriginal languages spoken across the country ranging from Algonquin Cree to Inuit.
Records from 2011 estimate the languages of Canada as follows: English (official) 58.7%, French (official) 22%,
Punjabi 1.4%, Italian 1.3%, Spanish 1.3%, German 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, Tagalog 1.2%, Arabic 1.1%, other 10.5%

Greeting in Canada:
 Last names and appropriate titles should be used until otherwise invited to be less formal.
 In Quebec it is usual to kiss once on each cheek as they do in France.
 Some older men may even kiss a lady’s hand.
 Canadian businesspeople often begin relationships in a reserved manner which may become less formal once
people are more familiar with one another.
 Canadians appreciate politeness and expect others to adhere to the proper protocol for any given situation.
 Shake hands with everyone at the meeting upon arrival and departure.
 Maintain eye contact while shaking hands.
 Men may offer their hand to a woman without waiting for her to extend hers first.
Culture of Germany
German culture has spanned the entire German-speaking world. From its roots, culture in Germany
has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe, both religious and secular. Historically
Germany has been called Das Land der Dichter und Denker (the country of poets and thinkers). There are a
number of public holidays in Germany. The country is particularly known for its
traditional Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich, its carnival culture and globally influential Christmas customs
known as Weihnachten.[2][3] 3 October has been the national day of Germany since 1990, celebrated as
the German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit). The UNESCO inscribed 38 properties in Germany on the
World Heritage List. Germany is the world's second most respected nation among 50 countries in 2013.[5] A
global opinion poll for the BBC revealed that Germany is recognized for having the most positive influence in
the world in 2011, 2013, and 2014

Language
German is the official and predominant spoken language in Germany.[9] It is one of 23 official languages in
the European Union, and one of the three working languages of the European, along with English and
French. Recognized native minority languages in Germany are Danish, Sorbian, and Frisian. They are
officially protected by the ECRML. The most used immigrant languages are Turkish, Kurdish, Polish,
the Balkan languages, and Russian. German dialects are distinguished from varieties of standard German.
German dialects are traditional local varieties and are traced back to the different German tribes. Many of
them are not easily understandable to a speaker of standard German, since they often differ
in lexicon, phonology, and syntax. Around the world, German has approximately 100 million native
speakers and also about 80 million non-native speakers.[11] German is the main language of about
90 million people (18%) in the EU. 67% of German citizens claim to be able to communicate in at least one
foreign language, 27% in at least two languages other than their first.[9]

Cuisine
German cuisine varies from region to region. The southern regions of Bavaria and Swabia, for
instance, share a culinary culture with Switzerland and Austria. Pork, beef, and poultry are the main
varieties of meat consumed in Germany; pork is the most popular.[39]Throughout all regions, meat is often
eaten in sausage form. More than 1500 different types of sausage are produced in Germany.Organic food has
gained a market share of around 3.0%, and this is predicted to increase further. A popular German saying
has the meaning: "Breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dine like a beggar." Breakfast is usually
a selection of breads and rolls with jam and honey or cold cuts and cheese, sometimes accompanied by a
boiled egg. Cereals or muesli with milk or yoghurt is less common but widespread.[41]
GREETINGS in Germany

Greeting someone in German is more than just knowing the right words. It also requires you to
know what actions to perform when you encounter a German.
HANDSHAKES - I have had many students from all over the world and am still slightly irritated
when e.g. an American doesn't offer her hand when we meet.
KISSES - Greeting someone the French way is rather unusual. Even too me it feels just fake. One
kiss on one cheek but make it count.
SECRET HANDSHAKES - I honestly am already too old to play cool. If you are a youngster, go for
it.
EYE CONTACT- It is totally fine to look into a German's eyes. No matter whether you meet a man
or a woman.