Language

Part 1:  You were asked to engage in a conversation for 15 minutes where you were not allowed to use
any version of a symbolic language (no speaking, writing, or ASL).

1. Did you find this experiment difficult or easy?  Explain. (5 pts)
• Over all I found this assignment difficult. Any questions requiring more than a yes or no, I attempted to act out and was mostly unsuccessful. I found that I rely heavily on speech with facial expressions and hand gestures are normally only used for emphasis.
2. What were the impressions of partners in the conversation?  Did they alter their way of communicating with you because of your absence of symbolic communication? Describe. (5 pts)
• No, my partner did not change their way of communicating with me. My partner mostly found the experiment humorous, but helped as much as possible to keep the project going.
3. Imagine that you and your partners in the conversation represent two different cultures meeting for the first time.  Which culture has the advantage in communicating complex ideas?  What attitudes might the speaking culture have toward the culture that does not use symbolic language?  Identify individuals in our culture that have difficulty communicating with spoken language and explore how that affects how those who do speak interact with those individuals. (5 pts)
• I think the non-speaking culture would be at an advantage over the speaking. The non-speaking people are used to being able to communicate without language, whereas the speaking culture would be at a loss of words. I think it would be very frustrating for the speaking culture, you are used to being about to communicate freely and easily. I think young children have a difficulty communicating with in our culture, their language skills are not fully developed. Children often get frustrated and cry or act out to try to communicate their needs. An example is a child going through their "terrible twos", at this age they can't form sentences and often throw tantrums and cry or scream to get what they want or need.

Part 2:  You were asked to spend 15 minutes communicating without any physical embellishments, i.e., 

no hand signals, not vocal intonation, not head, facial, or body movements.

1. Were you able to last for the full 15 minutes of using only speech for communicating?  What made this experiment difficult for you? (5 pts)
• My main difficulty was not using vocal intonation. I did not last the 15 minutes straight, multiple time I attempted to repeat myself without changing the tone of my voice. The assignment was to have a conversation, it was nearly impossible for me to ask a question without changing pitch at the end of the sentence.
2. How were your partners in this part of the experiment affected by your communication limitations?  Explain.  (5 pts)
• Again my partner found my efforts amusing, and was constantly correctly me. 
3. What does this experiment say about our use of “signs” in our language, i.e., how important is non-speech language techniques in our ability to communicate effectively?  (5 pts)
• It would be impossible for me to tell a story and apply any sort of emotion when trying to speak in the manner. You can't describe something as exciting without appearing excited.
4. Are there people who have difficulty reading body language?  Describe the adaptive benefit to possessing the ability to read body language. Can you describe environmental conditions where there might be a benefit to not reading body language? (5 pts)
• Yes, there are people who have difficulty reading body language. Being able to tell when someone is feeling aggressive, confused or comfortable is a valuable skill when trying to communicate with someone. The only example I can think of is if you managed to get yourself into a kill or be killed situation, in which case bonding or reading an emotion in your advisory might lesson your chances of survival.

Part 3:  There is a third component of language which we did not test in this experiment, and that is the 

importance of written language.

1. Do you think your experiment in Part 1 would have been easier if you had been permitted to use written language?  Why or why not?  Explain.  (5 pts)
• Yes, my partner in the experiment can read English. Even if I could only draw it would have been easier to communicate.
2. What advantage does written language provide to the culture that develops and uses it?  (5 pts)
• Being able to record our conversations, history, books are all great advantages for our culture. We can read, communicate, learn and educate 
3. What impact has written language had on “globalization”, or the spread of ideas around the world?  (5 pts)
• Texts and literature can be easily translated, read and learned by most cultures around the word. Now with the availability of the internet endless amounts of information is available anytime.

Environmental Adaptations

Zulu

1.The Zulu people are located on the eastern side of South Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean and the Drakensberg Mountains. Most of the rainfall occurs in the summer which averages 82 degrees making it humid, while winters are warm, dry and average 73 degrees.

2. The Zulu people live in a tropical climate not far from the equator and have developed high amounts of eumelanin in their skin to ward off the dangers of harsh ultra violet rays.

3. In the late 1800's a illegitimate son of a Chief, named Shaka created a short stabbing spear turning mild conflicts normally settled by shouting insults into a deadly nature. Later the clans of kwaZulu-Natal banded together and ultimately defeated the Voortrekkers and 30 years later the British.

4. I would describe the Zulu people as being Native South African race.  Based on "The does Race Exist" By Dr. Brace and Dr. Gill, I agree with Dr. Gill that race does exist. The Nguni peoples migrated from northern to southern Africa forming the Xhosa nation, which would later split into smaller clans and are now the Zulu.


References 

• 1. KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority (http://www.zulu.org.za)
• 2. Zulu Culture (http://www.zulu-culture.co.za)
• 3. Skin Color Adaptation by Dennis O'Neil 

Andean Indians


1. For each population, give a brief description of the environment in which the population lives. 
The Andean Indians live in the Andes Mountains, a long stretch of mountains running along the western coast of South America. Temperatures range from 52 degrees to 72 degrees and includes hot "wastelands" and tropical rainforests.
 


2. For each population, identify and describe one (1) physical adaption they demonstrate.
After 1000's of years living at high altitudes the Andean Indians have developed unique physiologically response to low oxygen pressure. They produce more hemoglobin there for increasing their lung capacity an ability to deliver oxygen to the blood.

3. For each population, identify and describe one (1) cultural adaption they demonstrate.
The Andean Indian live in a rich horticulture society. Farming and developing the mountain side is a way of life. They are able to produce abundant amount of food in what most society's would deem impossible.

4. Race: I would describe the race of the Andean Indians as Native Andean. Native because their physical adaptation to the high altitude shows that the Andean Indians have lived in the mountains for 1000's of years. Andean describes the Andes Mountains where the Andean live.  

References

• 1. Climate of the Andes (http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org)
• 2. Adapting to High Altitudes by Dennis O'Neil
• 3. Central American and northern Andean Indian By Dwight B. Heath (http://www.britannica.com

5. Summary – Adaptation vs. Race: 

I think adaptation plays a part in race, if a culture didnt adapt to their environment then the race wouldn't exist. I think both have an important role in explaining a culture. Race is a simple way to describe people and adaptation explains who a particular race is.

Cultural Descriptions Part A&B

Body Ritual of the Nacerima by Horace Miner  Part A


Ritualistic
The Nacerima conduct several types of rituals to rid their bodies of impurities. Daily cleansing rituals are the norm, every home as at least one shrine dedicated to this purpose. "The fundamental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease." Much of their life is dedicated to their practices. Even near death the Nacerima people will pay and provide gifts to the Medicine Men in order to enter the temple, or latipso. "The more elaborate ceremonies required to treat very sick patients can only be performed at this temple."

Superstitious
The Nacerima people are plagued by the idea that their bodies and its functions are are something they need to rid themselves of. As a part of their rituals they hold onto charms that have been given to them by Medicine Men. "The charm is not disposed of after it has served its purpose, but is placed in the charmbox of the household shrine. As these magical materials are specific for certain ills, and the real or imagined maladies of the people are many, the charm-box is usually full to overflowing."

Meticulous
"Each day every member of the family, in succession, enters the shrine room, bows his head before the charm-box, mingles different sorts of holy water in the font, and proceeds with a brief rite of ablution."  The Nacerima people are extremely meticulous with their rituals and beliefs. Every day acts like bathing are scrutinized and only preformed in private.

Masochists
The Nacerima people have deep seeded rituals, most of which might be deemed barbaric, sadistic or masochistic. As part of the Nacerima daily rituals men will scrap and lacerate their faces. Woman will bake their heads in small ovens for an hour four times a month. "The Nacirema have an almost
pathological horror of and fascination with the mouth, the condition of which is believed to have
a supernatural influence on all social relationships" "there is a ritual ablution of the mouth for children
which is supposed to improve their moral fiber."

Oppressive
Overall the Nacerima people are consumed by their culture and the need to purify their bodies. From the article you get the sense that they feel over come by the pressure to abide by these rituals no matter the consequence or severity. "The fact that these temple ceremonies may not cure, and may even kill the neophyte, in no way decreases the people's faith in the medicine men." They are shamed by what most cultures deem to be normal or even happy occasions. "When pregnant, women dress so as to hide their condition."

Ethnocentrism by Ken Barger Part B

1. I feel as an American that is was very difficult to not be biased or judgmental while reading about the Nacerima. However, when writing about them I tried to set aside my bias and describe them in a way that most people (or other cultures) might understand.
2. Based on the description of ethnocentrism by Ken Barger and the literal definitions of Ritualistic, Superstitious, Meticulous, Masochists and Oppressive I feel that my descriptive words are unbiased.

3. I do not feel the need to replace my descriptive words.

4. In order to gain an understanding of another culture you need to be able to put aside your own biases or be able to recognize when your judgement is clouded. I think it is impossible to avoid personal cultural bias, although I feel it is possible to over come your own bias.