American Culture: Adapting

to a New Way of Life.

7th Annual Academic Week
May 26, 2006
UAA
 Cultural Perspective

Today’s presentation looks at American

culture considering two general
perspectives:
1. United States ideology (e.g., beliefs,
values, and hopes), that share a common
cultural perspective
2. Language, and social etiquette that are
influenced by both the American and
native cultures
Ethnic Groups in the United States

white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and

Alaska native 1%, native Hawaiian and other
Pacific islander 0.2% (2003)
note: “…US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to
mean a person of Latin American descent
(including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto
Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any
race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.)

(The World Factbook, 2006)

 The Stages of Cultural Shock

Shock Stage
Acceptance Stage

Re-entry Stage

Honeymoon Stage

Adjustment Stage
 The Stages of Cultural Shock

• Honeymoon Stage
• Shock Stage
• Adjustment Stage
• Acceptance Stage
• Re-entry Stage

(Clandfield, 2004)
 What is the American Dream?

• When people speak of the American

Dream, what are they referring to?

• The American Dream is the faith held by

many in the United States of America that
through hard work, courage, and
determination one can achieve a better life
for oneself, usually through financial
prosperity.
(American Dream, 2006)
American Stereotypes
 Stereotype – Defined
• “A conventional, formulaic, and
oversimplified conception, opinion, or
image” (The American Heritage,2006).
• What are some American stereotypes and
how do we form them?
 American Stereotypes

• Americans don’t learn foreign

languages
• Maintenance of ancestral immigrant
languages
• The status of English as an official
language
• Ethnic stereotypes
• Regional stereotypes
(Ronowicz & Yallop, 1999, p. 248-255)
 If you’re American…

o You believe deep down in the First Amendment

(Freedom of Speech), guaranteed by the
government and perhaps by God.
o You’re familiar with David Letterman, Saturday
Night Live, Sesame Street, Star Trek, and the
Three Stooges.
o You know how baseball, basketball, and American
football are played. On the other hand, (and
unless you’re under 20), you don’t care that much
for soccer.
o You count yourself fortunate if you get three
weeks of vacation a year. (Rosenfelder, 2006)
 Star-Spangled Banner (also called The
1813
Stars and Stripes or Old Glory) 1795
-
1818

1960

(Smithsonian, 2006)
 Star-Spangled Banner

• "This Star-Spangled Banner and all its successors

have come to embody our country, what we think
of as America. It may not be quite the same for
every one of us who looks at it, but in the end we
all pretty much come out where the framers did.
We know that we have a country founded on
the then revolutionary idea that all of us are
created equal, and equally entitled to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." --Pres.
William Jefferson Clinton, speaking before the
Star-Spangled Banner at the National Museum of
American History, July 13, 1998.
 Star Spangled Banner
Song By: Frances Scott Key 1814
Tune: To Anacreon in Heaven
• Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last
gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the
perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly
streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in
air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was
still there.
Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave?
 First 10 amendments
of the oldest
Constitution in the world
– signed Sept. 17, 1787!
Bill of Rights

• 1st: First Amendment: Freedom of worship,

speech, press, assembly, and petition the
government for redress of grievances.
• 2nd: Second Amendment: right to bear
arms
• 3-10th: search and seizure, speedy trial,
reason bails, trial-by-jury, etc.
Language, Etiquette, and the Arts

• Cultural aspects that are

representative of both American and
native cultures.
Culture and Language
Arthur the Rat Regional Dialects
as read in the AUE Audio Archive
Once there was a young rat named Arthur, who could never make up his mind. Whenever his
friends asked him if he would like to go out with them, he would only answer, "I don't know." He
wouldn't say "yes" or "no" either. He would always shirk making a choice. NY
His aunt Helen said to him, "Now look here. No one is going to care for you if you carry on like
this. You have no more mind than a blade of grass."
One rainy day, the rats heard a great noise in the loft. The pine rafters were all rotten, so that the
Chicago
barn was rather unsafe. At last the joists gave way and fell to the ground. The walls shook and all
the rats' hair stood on end with fear and horror. "This won't do," said the captain. "I'll send out
scouts to search for a new home."
Within five hours the ten scouts came back and said, "We found a stone house where there is room Western
and board for us all. There is a kindly horse named Nelly, a cow, a calf, and a garden with an elm
tree." The rats crawled out of their little houses and stood on the floor in a long line. Just then the
old one saw Arthur. "Stop," he ordered coarsely. "You are coming, of course?" "I'm not certain,"
said Arthur, undaunted. "The roof may not come down yet." "Well," said the angry old rat, "we
can't wait for you to join us. Right about face. March!"
 Afro-American Venacular English
• Also called Ebonics or Black English (Spolsky, 1998, p. 63)

• Skrilla • An old car

• On the reezie • I’m not lying
• On the strength • Disagreements
• Hooptie • A junkie car
• Bucket • To show off
• Bumpin’ • Money
• When a song has a
• Flawsin’ good beat.
• Issues • Something true
 Afro-American Venacular English

• Skrilla • Money
Answers
• On the reezie • Something true
• On the strength • I’m not lying
• Hooptie • A junkie car
• Bucket • An old car
• Bumpin’ • When a song has a
good beat.
• Flawsin’ • To show off
• Issues • Disagreements

(Vox Slang, n.d.)

 Social Etiquette

TAKE THE SOCIAL ETIQUETTE QUIZ

 Social Etiquette
• Q: What are the proper forms of address when the lady is
higher ranked than the man?

• A: When a lady is higher ranked than a gentleman...

Dr.Susan Smith and Mr. Mark Smith

(when married)

Dr. Susan Johnson

Mr. Mark Smith
(Place on separate lines and omit the "and" when not married)

(Brown, 2006)
 Social Etiquette
• Q. What is the proper distance to stand from someone when
introducing yourself?

• A. In the United States, stand at an approximate distance of one

arm's length from an individual when introducing yourself

• Q. Who gets on/off an elevator first, men or women?

• A. The person who reaches the elevator first or is closest to the

door, regardless of gender, enters or exits an elevator first.

(Brown, 2006)
 Social Etiquette
• Q. What are some examples of changing gender roles in today’s
society?

• A. The person who reaches a doorway first, regardless of gender,

opens the door for others approaching. The person who extends an
invitation for cocktails or dinner, regardless of gender, is
responsible for paying the bill.

(Brown, 2006)
 Social Etiquette
• Q. What is the correct way to sneeze or cough in public?

• A. If you sense a sneeze or cough coming on, cover your nose and
mouth with your left hand (if you are right-handed) thus leaving
your right hand clean for shaking hands, opening doors, etc. (Note:
When you have a cold/flu you should also wash your hands often.)

(Brown, 2006)
 Social Etiquette
• Q: Your father is turning 70 years old and you want to throw
him a party. When do you offer a toast to him (before the
meal and before or after grace; during the meal; or after the
meal?)

• A: Welcoming toast happens after grace and before the meal (made
by the guest of honor).
• Toast the guest of honor after the meal and before the dessert.
• Then all the guests toast the host for having the reception or
party.
 Social Etiquette
• Q: Should I send a gift to the host of a dinner party?

• A: If attending a party in a private home and you are the guest

of honor, it is appropriate to send flowers to the host's home
earlier in the day.

• Q: When should a gentleman remove his hat?

• A: A gentlemen always removes his hat when entering a home,

restaurant, theater or church.
 Social Etiquette
• Q: When a man calls off a wedding, should the man return
the wedding ring?

• A: Yes, it is polite and customary for the woman to return the

engagement ring.

How did you do?

 Social Issues

• Homosexuality
• AIDS
• Women’s rights
• Abortion
• Sexual harassment
• Gun Control
• Preservation of the environment
• Drugs
• Health Care
 US Holidays
• New Year’s Day
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day)
• Memorial Day
• Easter
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veteran’s Day Which are federal holidays?
• Halloween
When are these holidays?
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
 US Holidays
• New Year’s Day (Jan. 1st)
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (3rd Monday in
Jan.)
• Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day) (3rd Monday in
Feb.)
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
• Good Friday (Easter Holiday)
• Independence Day (July 4th)
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Columbus Day (second Monday in October)
• Veteran’s Day (November 11th)
• Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November)
• Christmas (Dec 25th)
 Jazz Music

• Bebop Song 1
Song 2

• Blues
• Cool Song 4
• Dixieland Song 3

• Ragtime
Song 5
 America’s True Art Form –
Jazz Music
• Ragtime - Scott Joplin (1868-1917): The
Entertainer
• Blues - Bessie Smith (1894-1937): I Ain’t Got
Nobody
• Dixieland – Louis Armstrong (1901-1971):
• Bebop & Cool Jazz – Charlie Parker (1920-1955) &
Miles Davis (1926-1991)
 Conclusion

American culture
• values achievement and success.
• values efficiency and practicality.
• values progress and advancement.
• values freedom and equality.
• places value in the individual.
• values effort and optimism.

(Borchers, 2004)
 Conclusion

• The first cultural force is insistence on choice.

• Americans like to dream impossible dreams.
• Americans are obsessed with being big and
desiring more.
• Americans are driven by a “now imperative.”
• Americans are accepting of mistakes.
• Americans like to invent new ways of doing things.

(Borchers, 2004)
 References
• American Dream-Wikipedia. (2006). Retrieved on April 27, 2006,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream
• Borchers, T. (2004). Retrieved on May 25, 2006, from
http://www.mnstate.edu/borchers/Teaching/PersuasionF04/chapte
r8.pdf#search='chapter%208%20outline%20culture‘
• Brown, K. (2006). Etiquette Site. Retrieved on May 10, 2006 from
http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/6328.asp
• Clandfield, L., (2004). Culture Shock. Retrieved on May 6, 2006
from
http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/speaking/speaking_archive/c
ulture_shock.pdf
• Etherington, M. (n.d.). The Very Best of British. Retrieved on
March 20, 2006, from http://www.effingpot.com/index.shtml
• Flag of the United States-Wikipedia. (2006). Retrieved on April 27,
2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_flag
• Hyper Music: History of Jazz. (2004). Retrieved on May 23, 2006,
from http://www.hypermusic.ca/jazz/mainmenu.html
 References
• Ronowicz, E., & Yallop, C. (1999). English: one language, different
cultures. Cassell: London and New York.
• Rosenfelder, M. (2006). How to Tell if You’re American. Retrieved
on April 27, 2006, from http://www.zompist.com/amercult.html
• Smithsonian: Stars and Stripes (2006). Retrieved on May 3, 2006
from
http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb/6_thestory/6c_stars/fs6c.html
• Smithsonian: Story of the Flag. (2006). Retrieved on April 28,
2006 from http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb/6_thestory/fs6.html
• Spolsky, B. (1998). Sociolinguistics. New York: Oxford University
Press
 References
• The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. (2006).
Retrieved on May 3, 2006 from
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/stereotyp
e
• The First Brigade Band: A division of Heritage Military Music
Foundation, Inc.(n.d.). Retrieved on April 27, 2006 from
http://www.1stbrigadeband.org/SSB.html
• The World Factbook: The United States. (2006). Retrieved on May
3, 2006 from
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/factbook/us/popula.html;_y
lt=AhiyZNvswgnCExmOwgZHID24ecYF
• Vox Slang. (n.d.). Retrieved on April 27, 2006, from
http://www.voxcommunications.com/slang15.htm