Elements of symbolic/ non-material culture

A symbol is anything that carries a particular meaning that is recognized by people who
share a culture. Language, gestures, norms etc. are all symbols that convey some meaning.
Language
Language is a system of symbols that allow people to communicate with one another. By
means of language, we pass ideas, knowledge, and even attitudes on to the next generation.
This allows others to build on experiences in which they may never directly participate. As a
result, humans are able to modify their behaviour in light of what earlier generations have
learned. In this manner, Language allows culture to develop by freeing people to move
beyond their immediate experiences. Language helps us to recall and share past experiences
and also to plan our future events. Talking about events allows us to arrive at the shared
understandings that form the basis of social life. Not sharing a language while living
alongside one another, however, invites miscommunication and suspicion.
Does the world look different in other languages?
Sapir –Whorf hypothesis states that people see and understand the world through the
cultural lens of language. It indicates that rather than objects and events forcing themselves
onto our consciousness, it is our language that determines our consciousness, and hence
our perception of objects and events. Learning a language means not only learning words
but also acquiring the perceptions embedded in that language. In other words, language
both reflects and shapes our cultural experiences.
Examples:
 In older children’s books, words like fireman and mailman are common, along with
pictures of men in these jobs, and critics say they send a message to children that
these are male jobs, not female jobs.
 The use of racist terms may reinforce racial prejudice and racial stereotypes.
 Eskimos have more words for snow.
Gestures
Movements of the body to communicate with others are shorthand ways to convey
messages without using words. Although people in every culture of the world use gestures,
a gesture’s meaning may change completely from one culture to another. Gestures tend to
vary remarkably around the world. Some gestures are nearly universal: smiles often
represent joy, and crying often represents sadness. Other nonverbal symbols vary across
cultural contexts in their meaning.
Example:
A thumbs-up indicates positive reinforcement in the United States, whereas in Iran and
Australia, it is an offensive curse.

Values

Values are the standards by which people define what is desirable or undesirable, good or
bad, beautiful or ugly. Values are deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and
teaching a culture’s beliefs. 

Values often suggest how people should behave, but they don’t accurately reflect how
people do behave. Values vary across time and between cultures. Values portray an ideal
culture; the standards society would like to embrace and live up to. But ideal culture differs
from real culture, the way society actually is, based on what occurs and exists. In an ideal
culture, there would be no traffic accidents, murders, poverty, or racial tension. But in real
culture, police officers, lawmakers, educators, and social workers constantly strive to
prevent or repair those accidents, crimes, and injustices.

Norms

It describes how people are expected to behave in social situations. They are the visible and
invisible rules of conduct through which societies are structured. Norms can be formal and
informal. Formal norms are established, written rules. Ex-laws. People learn informal norms
by observation, imitation, and general socialization. Mores are norms that embody the
moral views and principles of a group. Violating them can have serious consequences.
Folkways are norms that are not strictly enforced. Folkways direct appropriate behaviour in
the day-to-day practices and expressions of a culture. Norms that one group considers to be
folkways another group may view as mores. Taboos are norms so strongly ingrained that
even the thought of them is greeted with revulsion. Eating human flesh and having sex with
one’s parents are examples of such behaviour.

Sanctions
Sanctions are the positive or negative reactions to the way in which people follow norms.
Positive sanctions (a money reward, a prize, a smile, or even a handshake) are expressions
of approval; negative sanctions (a fine, a frown, or harsh words) denote disapproval for
breaking a norm. Sanctions are a form of social control, a way to encourage conformity to
cultural norms. When people observe the norms of society and uphold its values, they are
often rewarded.

To relieve the pressure of having to strictly follow the norms, some cultures have moral
holidays—specified times or places where people are allowed to break the norms and not
worry about being sanctioned.