Part 1.
I found this part of the experiment was easy. I did not tell the person I was conducting the experiment with and they were none wiser the whole time. I simply used facial expressions and non verbal sounds like sighs or winces, and things like that. It helped that this particular person it a bit long-winded as far as talking goes, but they had no idea I wasn't talking on purpose. As far as two cultures meeting and who has an advantage on conveying complex ideas, I would say the person who did not speak would have an advantage. If you depend on language with someone who doesn't know how to speak it, simple or complex ideas cannot be communicated. However, they way someone feels, which is complex, can be conveyed very easily with non-verbal gestures. People who are deaf are people have a difficult time moving through society because most of society cannot SEE that they are deaf and do not know how to speak sign language, however both groups can still read emotional expressions.
Part 2.
I was able to last the entire 15 minutes of only using speech (probably because I was driving and didn't have to look at the person directly). I could tell that my experiment partner noticed I was "being weird" and grew frustrated. This proves that the use of signs like inflecting your voice at the end of a question can sound normal after a while, and failing to do so can be "weird" if you are not used to it. How you say something can almost be as important as what you say in our society. From being somber to cheery, the way you say something can affect the way someone receives the communication. People who don't pick up body language signs usually have bad social timing which makes them seem awkward. However, I've been in very snowy conditions of -50 degrees Fahrenheit in which clothing is packed on so tight it is hard enough to move let alone gesture something (other than shivering.)
Part 3.
I do not think it would be easier to use written language because I find that through my daily text messaging, my sarcasm doesn't translate very well, which causes people to take written language too literally.
Written language is a huge benefit overall because words and symbols can be standardized to bring large groups of people to a common ground of communication and writing. In the English realm, anyone who can read English can pick up anything I write and know what I'm saying.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Adaptation
Andean Native Americans
1.) The Andes Mountain range is the longest mountain range in the world, stretching over 4,500 miles across South America from north to south. The northern section of the range is humid and warm because it is so close to the equator and the southern half is much colder and drier because of its distance from the equator. Average rainfall in the southern section is about 8 inches in the summer and 4 in the winter with average temperatures in the 60 degree range, and the north gets rain nearly all year round with average temperatures in the 70's. The high altitude of the range calls for significant adaption among plants and animals, such as the plants being small, stout, and strong to conserve energy with an unstable water supply and low oxygen, however in the north plants are much more robust due to warmer temperatures and constant rain. *
2.) The Native Andean, who live in several countries along the mountain range like Peru, Chile, etc., have a few high-altitude adaptations that allow them to maintain a homeostasis in low oxygen environments. They have developed wider arteries and extra hemoglobin in their blood to make the most of the little oxygen they are exposed to. People with weaker hearts are very susceptible to altitude sickness and will notice low oxygen immediately, however these peoples have developed strong hearts and big lungs over several generations.
3.) I think the race of these people would best be identified as Indians or Native Americans. Because they came across on the land-bridge from Alaska several thousand years ago, I think they are very similar in genetic composition and rituals as their North American counterparts; they just went farther south and adapted differently.
South African Zulu
1.) The native Zulu of South Africa are exposed to an environment of high radiation due to sunlight almost all year round. The constant heat and sun exposure is the major variable of maintaining a homeostasis in South Africa. Average summer temperatures are in the high 70's with average rainfall of less than 10 inches per year.**
2.) The Zulu people that inhabit southern Africa are usually very dark skinned, tall, and slender. The dark skin is caused by an increased level of melanin which acts as a radiation blocker, and being tall and slender allow for more surface area to expel excess body heat.
3.) I think that the Zulu people fall under the Black race. For obvious reasons these people are called black, but share traits with other members of their race found in different parts of the world.
Summary:
Cultural adaptions have much more explaining power when attempting to describe a race than appearance. African Americans are black by race, but are more likely to have light skin than their native African counterparts because their western lifestyle doesn't select for dark skin any more.
* http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes_climate_page.htm
** http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.weather.southafrica.htm
1.) The Andes Mountain range is the longest mountain range in the world, stretching over 4,500 miles across South America from north to south. The northern section of the range is humid and warm because it is so close to the equator and the southern half is much colder and drier because of its distance from the equator. Average rainfall in the southern section is about 8 inches in the summer and 4 in the winter with average temperatures in the 60 degree range, and the north gets rain nearly all year round with average temperatures in the 70's. The high altitude of the range calls for significant adaption among plants and animals, such as the plants being small, stout, and strong to conserve energy with an unstable water supply and low oxygen, however in the north plants are much more robust due to warmer temperatures and constant rain. *
2.) The Native Andean, who live in several countries along the mountain range like Peru, Chile, etc., have a few high-altitude adaptations that allow them to maintain a homeostasis in low oxygen environments. They have developed wider arteries and extra hemoglobin in their blood to make the most of the little oxygen they are exposed to. People with weaker hearts are very susceptible to altitude sickness and will notice low oxygen immediately, however these peoples have developed strong hearts and big lungs over several generations.
3.) I think the race of these people would best be identified as Indians or Native Americans. Because they came across on the land-bridge from Alaska several thousand years ago, I think they are very similar in genetic composition and rituals as their North American counterparts; they just went farther south and adapted differently.
South African Zulu
1.) The native Zulu of South Africa are exposed to an environment of high radiation due to sunlight almost all year round. The constant heat and sun exposure is the major variable of maintaining a homeostasis in South Africa. Average summer temperatures are in the high 70's with average rainfall of less than 10 inches per year.**
2.) The Zulu people that inhabit southern Africa are usually very dark skinned, tall, and slender. The dark skin is caused by an increased level of melanin which acts as a radiation blocker, and being tall and slender allow for more surface area to expel excess body heat.
 |
| Dark skin and slender build helps protect radiation and over-heating |
3.) I think that the Zulu people fall under the Black race. For obvious reasons these people are called black, but share traits with other members of their race found in different parts of the world.
Summary:
Cultural adaptions have much more explaining power when attempting to describe a race than appearance. African Americans are black by race, but are more likely to have light skin than their native African counterparts because their western lifestyle doesn't select for dark skin any more.
* http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes_climate_page.htm
** http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.weather.southafrica.htm
Thursday, April 12, 2012
First Post Part A
health-conscious - though economic prosperity seems to dominate a huge portion of "Nacirema" life, a secondary and equal value has been placed on health and ritualistic, to the point of doing certain things more than one time per day
secretive- though everyone seems to engage in these rituals several times a day, they are done in private.
worrisome - by the fact that the Nacirema do these rituals everyday, they still worry about ailments such as having your teeth fall out, bleeding gums, and other health detriments.
sadistic- these people endure great pain at times to keep their mouths health, even if it involves seeing a "holy-mouth man" who subjects them to more pain than if they abstained from their rituals in the first place.
indoctrinated - children seem to be the only ones who question sick houses like "latipsos" because they have not been fully exposed to their own culture yet. Adults seem to have no qualms about going to heal at a "latipso" if they can offer a valid gift.
Part B
1. I still feel as though the descriptive words I chose were accurate, though they described my own American culture. However, I feel as though most of the developed world acts as the Nacirema does. All these descriptive words could be used to describe more than just Americans.
2. My words are certainly not free from bias. Accurate, but not free from bias. For example, it might be condescending to say people are sadistic to endure pain for health, but its exactly what happens. However, health conscious is not charged with bias, but is also accurate. Indoctrinate can be a little biased, but its a word I picked from Miner himself. Indoctrinated would assume that these people can't reason for themselves and are products of their environment, mindlessly acting as everyone else does.
3. I would replace sadistic with brutal. Stabbing at gums with an awl is certainly brutal by most people's standards. I would replace indoctrinated with trained, because children are shaped and trained to hold the values that their Nacirema culture values.
4. Avoiding judgement is key. Just because I am examining something another group does not mean that I am entirely different from them, or better than, I could be judging aspects of myself. Also, if I am different, that does not make me better either. I do believe it is possible to avoid cultural bias once you realize that an anthropologist's task is to describe and research, not judge praise or condemn.
secretive- though everyone seems to engage in these rituals several times a day, they are done in private.
worrisome - by the fact that the Nacirema do these rituals everyday, they still worry about ailments such as having your teeth fall out, bleeding gums, and other health detriments.
sadistic- these people endure great pain at times to keep their mouths health, even if it involves seeing a "holy-mouth man" who subjects them to more pain than if they abstained from their rituals in the first place.
indoctrinated - children seem to be the only ones who question sick houses like "latipsos" because they have not been fully exposed to their own culture yet. Adults seem to have no qualms about going to heal at a "latipso" if they can offer a valid gift.
Part B
1. I still feel as though the descriptive words I chose were accurate, though they described my own American culture. However, I feel as though most of the developed world acts as the Nacirema does. All these descriptive words could be used to describe more than just Americans.
2. My words are certainly not free from bias. Accurate, but not free from bias. For example, it might be condescending to say people are sadistic to endure pain for health, but its exactly what happens. However, health conscious is not charged with bias, but is also accurate. Indoctrinate can be a little biased, but its a word I picked from Miner himself. Indoctrinated would assume that these people can't reason for themselves and are products of their environment, mindlessly acting as everyone else does.
3. I would replace sadistic with brutal. Stabbing at gums with an awl is certainly brutal by most people's standards. I would replace indoctrinated with trained, because children are shaped and trained to hold the values that their Nacirema culture values.
4. Avoiding judgement is key. Just because I am examining something another group does not mean that I am entirely different from them, or better than, I could be judging aspects of myself. Also, if I am different, that does not make me better either. I do believe it is possible to avoid cultural bias once you realize that an anthropologist's task is to describe and research, not judge praise or condemn.
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