Introduction
It is worth noting that culture is diverse, and it includes everything that was created by a group of people throughout its historical development. The study of culture occurs through the analysis of its elements such as language, values, norms, customs, traditions, and many other aspects (Basáñez, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the building blocks of a culture that is different from that of the author of this writing.
Discussion
Indian culture is significantly different from the culture of the author of this paper in many ways. In particular, these differences may be observed in such building blocks as values, norms, and language. Values are one of the main blocks of the Indian culture, and they imply a set of socially significant preferences to which the social group gives priority. Values demonstrate the importance that certain objects, relations, phenomena, norms, and ideals have for that group of people (Basáñez, 2016). Norms are another building block in which one may observe the characteristic features of Indian culture. They regulate people’s behavior and its standards in accordance with the values of Indian culture. Also, language is an equally important aspect that may be observed in any cultural group. It is an objective form of accumulation, preservation, and transmission of human experience. Hindi is spoken by the majority of the Indian population, and it reflects all the changes that occur in society.
Values of the Indian culture are quite different from that of Western culture. This is reflected in such aspects as relation to family, relationships within society, and so on. Based on the author’s observation, in Indian culture, people give high priority to the way other individuals perceive them and restrict their behavior based on the attitudes of others. In Western culture, people are more open-minded and focus more on their individual needs and worldview (Basáñez, 2016). Apart from that, in Indian culture, people care more about their family members than they do about themselves and are, generally, more attached to their family. In Western culture, people tend to become independent and separate from their nuclear family quite early.
In terms of norms, Indian culture may be considered more conservative, and people’s behavior depends on the customs and traditions. For instance, it is rather common to arrange marriages, and women still may have fewer possibilities than men do. However, importantly, Indian culture is striving for equality in all aspects of living (Baldwin, Means Coleman, González, & Shenoy-Packer, 2014). In Western culture, love marriages are common, and equality is highly promoted on all levels. Apart from that, as stated above, language is another building block encountered. Hindi is spoken by the majority of people belonging to Indian culture; however, there are many other languages spoken in different areas, and they are given official encouragement. In Western culture, most people speak English (although Spanish and French are also quite widely used). Interestingly, Hindi has adopted many words from the English language and Western culture while simultaneously accumulating the experience of Indian people.
It may be assumed that the reaction of the author towards a different culture was adequate enough. It was important to show a positive attitude towards another culture, appreciate its norms and values, and interact according to its rules while preserving the cultural identity. Understanding the differences allowed developing a positive attitude towards another culture and avoiding isolation (Baldwin et al., 2014). Adaptation to Indian culture occurred not through the recognition of the differences but due to a personal interest in comprehending the values of another culture and emotional contact with another person.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that representatives of the Indian culture identify themselves with their culture through such building blocks as values, norms, and language. Differences between Indian and Western cultures may be observed in many ways, and some of them are fundamental. By appreciating diversity, it becomes possible to explore the various cultures existing in the world and cognizing the features of the individual’s own culture.
References
Baldwin, J. R., Means Coleman, R. R., González, A., & Shenoy-Packer, S. (2014). Intercultural communication for everyday life. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Basáñez, M. (2016). A world of three cultures: Honor, achievement and joy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.