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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
which one is it?
Hi,
I was looking at the Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary for the word "culture" and found (as it seems) that there are two definitions among many others that seem to interest me . They are:
Culture:
1. Uncount Culture consists of activities such as the arts and philosophy, which are considered to be important for the development of civilization and and of people's minds.
2. Count A culture is a particular society or civilization, especially considered in relation to its beliefs, way of life, or art.
Two phrases/sentences to be examined (which definition are the following being true?? to?):
How to approach "culture" in the workplace
This is not the norm in N. American culture (from Mr. Clive's post in this forum)
I was looking at the Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary for the word "culture" and found (as it seems) that there are two definitions among many others that seem to interest me . They are:
Culture:
1. Uncount Culture consists of activities such as the arts and philosophy, which are considered to be important for the development of civilization and and of people's minds.
2. Count A culture is a particular society or civilization, especially considered in relation to its beliefs, way of life, or art.
Two phrases/sentences to be examined (which definition are the following being true?? to?):
How to approach "culture" in the workplace
This is not the norm in N. American culture (from Mr. Clive's post in this forum)
Top answer
Both of those phrases refer to the second meaning. Unless it is a context where they are clearly and obviously talking about culture as in 'art', 'music' 'dance' etc, you are usually safe to assume it is the second meaning. If you want to check, see which of the following substitutions could make sense in any context.
- Both of those phrases refer to the second meaning.
- Unless it is a context where they are clearly and obviously talking about culture as in 'art', 'music' 'dance' etc, you are usually safe to assume it is the second meaning.
- If you want to check, see which of the following substitutions could make sense in any context.
- Substitute 'society's rules' for meaning 2 and 'dance and drama' for meaning 1.
- These, of course, are very much simplified 'meanings' but they should work to help you decide which was intended.
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4 Answers
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Both of those phrases refer to the second meaning.
Unless it is a context where they are clearly and obviously talking about culture as in 'art', 'music' 'dance' etc, you are usually safe to assume it is the second meaning.
If you want to check, see which of the following substitutions could make sense in any context. Substitute 'society's rules' for meaning 2 and 'dance and dra
Unless it is a context where they are clearly and obviously talking about culture as in 'art', 'music' 'dance' etc, you are usually safe to assume it is the second meaning.
If you want to check, see which of the following substitutions could make sense in any context. Substitute 'society's rules' for meaning 2 and 'dance and dra
00
Thank you.
Are you saying if we are talking about 'drama and dancing', then meaning 1 would apply; whereas, if we are talking about 'society's rules', we would be talking about meaning 2?
Let me just rewrite the portions of the original definitions i wrote.
1. Uncount Culture consists of activities such as the arts ...
2. Count A culture ..., way of li
Are you saying if we are talking about 'drama and dancing', then meaning 1 would apply; whereas, if we are talking about 'society's rules', we would be talking about meaning 2?
Let me just rewrite the portions of the original definitions i wrote.
1. Uncount Culture consists of activities such as the arts ...
2. Count A culture ..., way of li
00
Yes I did say that some things would be part of both definitions, and 'the arts' is one of those.
However, for definition 2, 'the arts' are only a tiny part of a societies culture. You would have to include language, family structure, traditions, clothing, food, etc - anything that contributes to the 'style' of the society and goes towards making it distinct from all the other societies.
However, for definition 2, 'the arts' are only a tiny part of a societies culture. You would have to include language, family structure, traditions, clothing, food, etc - anything that contributes to the 'style' of the society and goes towards making it distinct from all the other societies.
00
Here in the United States, you often see the two terms linked together. Two local examples:
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