Zamonaviy lingvistika

CHAPTER I.


Like the air we breathe, the cultural context that shapes our understanding of the world is often invisible for those who are surrounded by it; cultural history allows us to take a step back, and recognize that some of what we take for granted is remarkable, and that some of what we have thought immutable and natural …
Cultural history brings to life a past time and place. In this search, cultural historians study beliefs and ideas, much as intellectual historians do. In addition to the writings of intellectual elites, they consider the notions (sometimes unwritten) of the less privileged and less educated. These are reflected in the products of deliberately artistic culture, but also include the objects and experiences of everyday life, such as clothing or cuisine. “Culture” can also imply everyday attitudes, values, assumptions and prejudices, and the rituals and practices that express them, from magical beliefs to gender roles and racial hierarchies. In this sense, our instincts, thoughts, and acts have an ancestry which cultural history can illuminate and examine critically. Historians of culture at Yale study all these aspects of the past in their global interconnectedness, and explore how they relate to our many understandings of our varied presents.
Cultural history is an effort to inhabit the minds of the people of different worlds. This journey is, like great literature, thrilling in itself. It is also invaluable for rethinking our own historical moment. Like the air we breathe, the cultural context that shapes our understanding of the world is often invisible for those who are surrounded by it; cultural history allows us to take a step back, and recognize that some of what we take for granted is remarkable, and that some of what we have thought immutable and natural is contingent and open to change. Studying how mental categories have shifted inspires us to think how our own cultures and societies can evolve, and to ask what we can do as individuals to shape that process.
In this Unit we will try to look at the concept of culture in all its aspects as it relates to human society and civilization. We shall see how culture impinges on our lives at various levels and how important it is as a means of carrying forward traditions and values. By the end of this Unit, you will have a fair idea of the notion of culture and be able to see how culture can be defined and also how it can be categorized into different types. Before we begin to talk about the different types of culture, perhaps it would be appropriate to see what exactly we mean by 'culture'.
Culture is spoken of as sanskriti in Vedic terms, the word originating from sanskara which is imbued with the sense of a process of enhancement and cleansing. Sanskriti could then be taken to mean a collection of techniques or a system that purifies and elevates Man's existence by showing him how to coexist in harmony with others and teaches him the courtesies of living in human society and the practice philanthropy. It also gathers into its ambit, those values and modes of conduct which bring about refinement and instills those sanskara which will take them on the road to enlightenment and will refine their talents.