How culture transmitted?

Answer 1

The culture of a people is the sum total of their daily practices, the kinds of foods they eat, the clothes they wear, the way they worship, the activities they engage in, the things they value, etc. Within any culture there are individuals who make choices different that everyone else, but the choices and practices that the group or nation choose together is what makes up their culture.

Culture is transmitted when one spends significant time with the people who are already the living expression of those collective choices. If you are born into a particular culture, you learn to engage in those practices without thinking about it, just as you learn your native language effortlessly. If you come into a culture from the outside, you are more conscious of the things which make that culture unique and of how it compares with what you already know from your own family and culture. When you feel comfortable adopting some of the practices that are new for you, you are adapting to the new culture. This is part of the natural process of assimilation, or the transmission of culture.

So cultural transmission can happen unconsciously or consciously, depending on when you first experience the culture that is new to you.

Sometimes when two cultures are side by side, the people representing each group choose not to adopt each others' values and practices, but to keep their own culture distinct from their neighbor's culture. This can happen for a number of reasons. Sometimes it is because they want to honor their heritage. One example would be a Polish or Italian or German or Chinese community in a large American city. They love their adopted country (in this case, the US), but they also think it is important to keep the traditions of their home country out of respect for their own culture. Another reason for resisting full assimilation into another culture is based on religious convictions. An example of that might be the Amish, who live close to "the English", but who choose not to adopt their values or their lifestyle, out of respect for God. A third reason for not assimilating into the other nearby culture is a language barrier. An example of this would be some factions on the US/Mexico border. Even though they live side by side, and hear both languages every day, some choose to speak only English, and some choose to speak only Spanish. This affects the groups of people that they choose to spend time with, and, in turn, affects the cultural identity that they choose for themselves and their families.

The choice to blend in or to remain culturally distinct is a very personal one, and there is no right or wrong in either choice. It is a blessing to live in our country (and in this world of ours, that seems to get smaller every day!) where so many different cultures have come together to form such a fascinating diversity.

Answer 2

Culture is transmitted through various means such as language, traditions, rituals, stories, and media. People learn about their culture through socialization within their community, from family, schools, peers, and through shared experiences. Culture is also perpetuated through cultural institutions like museums, religious organizations, and community groups.