Comprehension Exercises

I. Reread the text and answer the following questions.

l)Why is it stated that the major aspects of culture include language, norms, sanctions and values? 2) How can you account for the fact that language is a critical element of culture? 3) Do you agree that people depend upon language in their life? State your reason. 4) Can you give any examples of gestures of nonverbal communication that differ in different languages? 5) Why is language of great interest to the sociological perspective? 6) What can you tell us about the efforts of the French government to maintain the linguistic integrity in France? 7) What are the other aspects of a culture besides language? 8) How do sociologists distinguish between norms? 9) What examples of formal and informal norms can you give? 10) Can you distinguish between mores and folkways? 11) What do you think about the classification of distance zones suggested by the anthropologist Edward Hall? 12) What do sanctions indicate? 13) How can you prove that values influence people's behavior?

II. Define the following key terms and memorize the definitions:

language, norms, mores, folkways, sanctions, values.

III. Speak on the elements of culture and their aspects in brief and illustrate your reports withexamples or situations of your own taken from the Russian lifestyle.

IV. Speak about language as the foundation of culture.

V. Comment on the domination of other languages byEnglish. Can you name anyother reasons for this domination besides the twoones mentioned in the text? Will English continue dominating the languages of the world?

VI. Comment on the efforts of the French government to maintain the linguistic integrity in France. Why aren't they effective? Do you share the sarcastic approach of the newspaper Le Monde to this campaign?

VII. Express your opinion. Should we try to maintain the linguistic integrity in Russia? How can you account for the domination of English in our country? May it lead to the domination of the American culture over the Russian ways and traditions? What do you suggest we should dotoprevent it?

VIII. Comment on the statement that the United States remains resistant to official use of languages other than English and to the introduction of bilingual, bicultural education. Don't you think that this hostilitydoes more harm than good to the American culture robbing it of the cultural diversity?

IX. Name and comment on the American values suggested by the sociologist Robin Williams. Can you go on with this list? Can you offer a list of basic Russian values and account for your choice?

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