If you decide to travel to a foreign country or learn a new language, the most important thing to understand is culture. It’s the backbone of any group of people. There are five major elements of culture.
Language
Different languages are spoken by different cultures. When you learn a new language, you can learn a bit about the speakers’ culture. Likewise, different cultures use language differently. For example, I’ve mentioned before that in Spain, people greet you every time they enter or leave a room, whether they know you or not. That being said, when an American walks into a room in Spain without greeting the room (because it’s not common in American culture), that American might be perceived as rude.
Government
Governments are the leaders of their respective countries, so they play a pretty big role in culture. Government tells cultures what they can or cannot do, and when a society wishes to change their culture, they might start with the government. For example, when a culture evolves to become more accepting of gay marriage, it will change the laws to respect the cultural shift.
Religion
In many cultures, religions define the people’s morals and laws. For example, Saudi Arabia is a deeply religious country, so the religious beliefs held in that country dictate the laws and, therefore, the culture. Because their religion states that women should not drive, it is not a culturally accepted practice.
Art
Art can be seen differently throughout different cultures, and is therefore a major part of culture. Let’s look at dancing, for example. In Latin countries, dancing is very sensual and sexy. Dances like tango and salsa express a much different culture than swing dancing, a fun dance that accompanies fun music, a historically American dance.
Social Organization
How old is a child when he or she goes to school? When do you stop living with your parents? How often do you see your extended family? These are all specific to individual cultures, and thus helps to define a culture. For example, because European cultures favor family time over individual needs or wants, it’s common for children to live with their parents until they’re in their twenties or thirties.
Customs and Traditions
Different cultures may have their own traditional holidays to celebrate, traditional foods to eat, or customs. For example, bowing is a custom normally found in Asian cultures, which reflects a culture that is highly respective. Customs and traditions are generally a very strong reflection of culture because they can be incredibly important to the people in a society.