Define Culture, Enculturation, Ethnic Identity, and Acculturation, and Explain Why Culture is Important in Interpersonal Communication
Culture: Consists of the relatively specialized lifestyle of a group of people that is passed on from one generation to the next through communication, not through genes
Metaphors of Culture
Tree: The trunk, branches, and leaves are seen, but the root system, which gives the tree its structure and function, is hidden from view 
Melting Pot: Cultures blend into one amalgam and lose their individuality, but the blend is better than any one of the ingredients
Iceberg: Only a small part of culture is visible; most of culture and its influences are hidden from easy inspection
Software: Culture dictates what we do and don't do. Out of awareness, people are programmed, to some extent, to think and behave by their culture
Salad: Culture are individual; yet they work together with other cultures to produce an even better combination
Organism: Culture uses the environment (other cultures) to grow but maintains boundaries so its uniqueness is not destroyed
Gender: The cultural roles of "masculine" and "feminine", is what boys and girls learn from their culture
Mosaic: Culture is made up of pieces of different shapes, sizes, and colors; the whole, the combination, is more beautiful than any individual piece
Learning Culture
Ethnic Identity: A commitment to the beliefs and philosophy of your culture, can act as a protective shield against discrimination
Enculturation: The process by which culture is transmitted from one generation to another
Sex: Different from Gender, the biological distinction between male and female; sex is determined by genes, by biology
Through Parents, Peer Groups, Schools, Religious Institutions, and Government Agencies
Observe Ethnic Holidays; Patronize Ethnic Parades; Eat Ethnic Foods; Learn Own Culture and Ethnic Background from School, and from Own Media and Internet Exposure
Race: Different from Ethnic Identity, a classification of humans on the basis of their physical and biological characteristics
Acculturation: The process by which one culture modified or changed through contact with or exposure to another culture
The Importance of Culture
Economic Interdependence
Communication Technology
Sensitivity to Cultural Differences
Culture-Specific Nature of Interpersonal Communication
Demographic Changes
The Aim of a Cultural Perspective: Culture is emphasized simply because it's crucial to the effectiveness of interpersonal communication
Cultural Practices are Diverse and not Equal