Transcript May 12
Microcultures . The Cultural Context Characteristics of Microcultures Physical or cultural trait Membership is usually not voluntary Generally practice endogamy Awareness of subordinate status Experience unequal treatment Muted Group Theory Suggests that the speech and writing of microcultural groups are not valued by the dominant cultural group. In response, microcultural group members can: Attempt to change the dominant mode of expression. Create their own “private” language. Examples of Microcultures Asian Americans African American Hispanic/Latino The Amish Hmong LGBT Asian Americans Size: nearly 6% of the U.S. population Diversity as a microcultural group Six dominant values held by most Asian Americans include: collectivism conforming to norms emotional self-control family recognition through achievement filial piety humility Hispanic/Latino Size—approximately 16% of the U.S. population. Values—family and the Roman Catholic faith. Language/Dialects—Spanish, Spanglish, Chicano English. Stereotype: Machismo. Spanglish Lonchando I’m lonchado. Can’t talk now. Frizando Turn up the heat. Estoy frizando. El autopar Take it to el autopar. Guarejaus He stored it in the guarejaus. Pisa Ho Estoy hungry. Goin’ to Pisa Ho. Guendis No yo. I like Guendis better. African Americans Size: approximately 13.6% of the U.S. population. Language/Dialect: Ebonics, “call- and-response” communication pattern. Cultural attitudes about Ebonics. Black Language Omission of final consonant ‘Th’ as ‘t’ Past -> pas, hand -> han Bath ->bat Regular rules Omit present tense ‘is’ and ‘are’ Pedro trippin. They all right. But pronouce present tense ‘am’ Ahm walkin. Use invariant ‘be’ Actions that occur regularly or habitually and not just once The Hmong Size—approximately 150,000 in the U. S. History of the “free people” or “mountain people” Family—grouped into clans. Patrilineal. Value arranged marriages. Dialects -- Hmoob Dawb (White Hmong), Hmoob Ntsuab (Blue Hmong). Nonverbal characteristics: paj ntaub, eye twitching. Rap Vocabulary Ace boon coon Best friend All that Have good qualities Bang Fight or kill Cave boy White person Coconut Latino Roll up Arrive Tight Feel good The Amish Size—approximately 150,000 in the U.S. Average of 7 children per family Religion—Anabaptist Isolation—do not serve in the military, pay Social Security taxes or serve on juries. Do not receive social security, welfare or collect settlements. Language—high German and low German (i.e. Pennsylvania Dutch) Nonverbal communication through dress LGBT Most difficult of the microculture examples to characterize and define. Gayspeak—serves three functions: Protects against detection of sexual status Facilitates expression of roles within gay culture Vehicle for political identity and activism