TEXTO A

Culture and language

CULTURE refers to the customs, practices, languages,

values and world views that define social groups such as
those based on nationality, ethnicity, region or common
interests. Cultural identity is important for people’s sense of
self and how they relate to others. A strong cultural identity
can contribute to people’s overall wellbeing.

Culture is a defining feature of a person’s identity,

contributing to how they see themselves and the groups with
which they identify. Culture may be broadly defined as the
sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human
beings, which is transmitted from one generation to another.
Every community, cultural group or ethnic group has its own
values, beliefs and ways of living.

Language is intrinsic to the expression of culture. As a

means of communicating values, beliefs and customs, it has
an important social function and fosters feelings of group
identity and solidarity. It is the means by which culture and
its traditions and shared values may be conveyed and
preserved.

TEXTO B
International Marriage
EVERY marriage requires commitment, dedication and work. An
international/intercultural marriage requires even more attention because of the
many obstacles that a couple faces. The obstacles come from family, friends,
personal values, expectations, and bureaucratic procedures. Some of the
problems these relationships face include: language barrier, differences in
values, religious conflicts, sex role expectations, economic adjustments, fear of
abandonment by family, friends or spouse, political issues and legal
complications
To overcome these barriers, intercultural couples need to: learn about one
another's cultures, communicate well in at least one language, be open and
honest with their families, accept that cultural roots go deep and that people don't
change easily or quickly, focus on the positives, Look at what they have in
common with one another, talk with one another about which traditions they want
to carry on as a couple and with their children, discuss their expectations in the
areas of mealtimes, holidays, finances, sex, chores and roles, look at why it is
difficult to let go of a tradition or expectation.
It isn't easy to deal with the legacy that we've all grown up with in our ethnic,
religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Couples have said that the first five
years of this type of marriage are the hardest. The key to a successful
intercultural marriage is to develop understanding and patience.
 TEXTO C
Society of the United States
THE SOCIETY or culture of the United States is a Western culture, and has been developing since long before the United
States became a country with its own unique characteristics and developments such as dialect, music, arts, cuisine, etc.
Today the United States of America is a diverse and multi-cultural country as result of mass scale immigration from very
many countries throughout its history.

Its chief early influence was British culture, due to colonial ties with the British that spread the English language, legal
system and other cultural inheritances. Other important influences came from other parts of Europe, especially countries
from which large numbers immigrated such as Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Italy. It also includes migrations from Latin
America, Asia; the Native Americans; Africa, especially the western part, from which came the ancestors of most African
Americans; and young groups of immigrants. American culture also has shared influence on the cultures of its neighbors
in the New World.

The United States has traditionally been known as a melting pot, but recent developments tend towards cultural
diversity, pluralism and the image of a salad bowl rather than a melting pot. Due to the extent of American culture there
are many integrated but unique subcultures within the United States. The cultural affiliations an individual in the United
States may have commonly depend on social class, political orientation and a multitude of demographic characteristics
such as ancestral traditions, sex and sexual orientation. The strongest influences on American culture came from
northern European cultures, most prominently from Germany, Ireland and Britain. There are great regional and
subcultural differences, making American culture mostly heterogeneous.
 TEXTO D
The Americans see the French as ...

Lazy: people who do not work and demonstrate in the

streets (when they are not on strike).

Cowards: they always surrender, unreliable allies.

Rude: anti-American and ungrateful, people who don't

speak English, distant and difficult to meet.

Communists: people who live in a bureaucratic socialist

system and who are totally dependent on the State.

Dirty: people who do not use soap.

Arrogant and conceited people, always giving lessons to

the others.

Not democratic: people who do not respect religious

freedom.

The French see the Americans as ...

Arrogant and sure they are always right and good.

Moralizing and overly religious.

Insular: people who do not know other nations and

whose press never addresses international.

Domineering: people who do not take criticism.

Naive: de grands enfants (ie, people who are naive and

have no, or a too short, history).

Violent: people who have free access to guns and who

use them to shoot each other when things go wrong.

Materialistic: people who are arch-capitalists and only

think about money.
 TEXTO E
Culture of the United States
THE DEVELOPMENT of the culture of the United States of America — History, Holidays,
Sports, Religion, Cuisine, Literature, Poetry, Music, Dance, Visual Arts, Cinema, and
Architecture — has been marked by a tension between two strong sources of inspiration:
European ideals, especially British, and domestic originality.

American culture encompasses traditions, ideals, customs, beliefs, values, arts, and
innovations developed both domestically and imported via colonization and immigration.
Prevalent ideas and ideals from the European continent such as Democracy, Christianity,
and Civil liberties are present as well as those which evolved domestically such as
important National holidays, uniquely American sports, proud military tradition,
innovations in the arts and entertainment, and a strong sense of national pride among the
population as a whole. It includes both conservative elements and liberal elements,
military and scientific competitiveness, political structures, risk taking and free
expression, materialist and moral elements. It also includes elements which evolved from
Native Americans, and other ethnic subcultures; most prominently African-American and
Latin American culture. Many cultural elements, especially popular culture have been
exported across the globe through modern mass media, but a few of the cultural elements
have remained rather exclusive to North America. American culture is not static and is
developing and changing as the demographic composition of the nation changes due to a
rising number of Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States (often illegally)
due to deteriorating social and economic conditions in their respective countries.