issue207 [OB小组] 第12次作业 define a culture

xiao8686UID: 2266881

TOPIC: ISSUE207 - "Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."
WORDS: 672          TIME: 00:45:00+10:00          DATE: 2007-7-24 22:47:41

In this issue, the author states that a culture is defined by rituals and ceremonies, without which, societies or a group of people may get lost. However， I fundamentally disagree with the author. As far as I am concerned, rituals and ceremonies do not only function as methods to define a culture. Nor a culture could be defined by them.

First of all, rituals and ceremonies in a certain sense indeed have their effects in defining a culture. As those rituals and ceremonies are mostly forms of celebrations or rites that originated long time ago, while developed with the advancement of a society, they inevitably contain the elements of a certain society. Therefore, the pith of a society which those rituals and ceremonies concern can to some extent represents the society. For example, for hundreds of years, Chinese people celebrate spring festival---the most indispensable holiday of a year, during which, people hold various ceremonies and rituals such as making Chinese complexes, lighting fireworks, eating a feast together with families and handing out moneys to kids. All sorts of forms of rites and customs send the common messages to foreigners of china that in this culture, people unite and have a great time in these moments of a year. Therefore, to many foreigners of china, celebrating spring festivals has been patented by this culture. Anything related to spring festival like the red Chinese complexes remind them Chinese culture.  Clearly, rituals and ceremonies do help to define a culture.

Nevertheless, the purposes of rituals and ceremonies can be much more than defining a culture. In some circumstances, they are celebrated merely out of the spiritual purposes. For example, in many countries, people pray before they have their meals. Such brief rituals they had can hardly speak for the definition of a culture. It is just the personal faith people hold. They thank for god for giving them foods and thereby keep an appreciative attitude toward lives. The succinct ceremony may barely be the incentive of living positively and be driven by the optimistic nature of human beings rather than a essence of a culture. Sometimes, rituals and ceremonies appear because of several political reasons. For instance, heresies never stop occurring in the history.  Each heresy has its own rites and ceremonies, which mainly cause people to devote them to the organization and then spread its belief to the followers. Yet, many of those heresies like the Falun Gong Heresy in china were established for political purposes. The leader of them tend to manipulate the followers to create a large political force which can be utilized later to be against the government. In sum, rituals and ceremonies can also be use of spiritual, political or other purposes instead of defining a culture.

Finally, there are many other means other than rituals and ceremonies to define a culture. To support this point, we should look no further than how language functions when it comes to defining a culture. As we know, different languages are mingled with different styles in it, which is not only reflected on the seeming literal structures but also the way how it carries thoughts. For example, lots of English direct and forthright words such as love, affection, hate and etc. are much more frequently used than their counterparts in Chinese are, because in the cultures where people use English, frankness and forthrightness are worshiped by people while in Chinese culture people are inclined to appear connotative and indirect. The very different ways to express themselves are formulated not in a short period of time but a long history, which at the same time are the emblems of their cultures. Therefore, a culture is not exclusively defined by rituals and ceremonies, to retain the sense of who they are, people does not necessarily rely on rituals and ceremonies.

In conclusion, rituals and ceremonies are not the only approaches to define a culture, thereby maintaining people self-identified senses. Meanwhile, rituals and ceremonies serve for various other purposes besides the reflection of a culture.

stonescjUID: 2359180

In this issue, the author states that a culture is defined by rituals and ceremonies, without which, societies or a group of people may get lost. However， I fundamentally disagree with the author. As far as I am concerned, rituals and ceremonies do not only function as methods to define a culture. Nor a culture could be defined by them. //这最后一句是何意？

First of all, rituals and ceremonies in a certain sense indeed have their effects in defining a culture. As those rituals and ceremonies are mostly forms of celebrations or rites that originated long time ago, while developed with the advancement of a society, they inevitably contain the elements of a certain society. Therefore, the pith of a society which those rituals and ceremonies concern can to some extent represents the society. For example, for hundreds of years, Chinese people celebrate spring festival---the most indispensable holiday of a year, during which, people hold various ceremonies and rituals such as making Chinese complexes, lighting fireworks, eating a feast together with families and handing out moneys to kids. All sorts of forms of rites and customs send the common messages to foreigners of china that in this culture, people unite and have a great time in these moments of a year. Therefore, to many foreigners of china, celebrating spring festivals has been patented by this culture. Anything related to spring festival like the red Chinese complexes remind them Chinese culture.  Clearly, rituals and ceremonies do help to define a culture. //感觉例子还要更点点题

Nevertheless, the purposes of rituals and ceremonies can be much more than defining a culture. In some circumstances, they are celebrated merely out of the spiritual purposes. For example, in many countries, people pray before they have their meals. Such brief rituals they had can hardly speak for the definition of a culture. It is just the personal faith people hold. They thank for god for giving them foods and thereby keep an appreciative attitude toward lives. The succinct ceremony may barely be the incentive of living positively and be driven by the optimistic nature of human beings rather than a essence of a culture. Sometimes, rituals and ceremonies appear because of several political reasons. For instance, heresies never stop occurring in the history.  Each heresy has its own rites and ceremonies, which mainly cause people to devote them to the organization and then spread its belief to the followers. Yet, many of those heresies like the Falun Gong Heresy in china were established for political purposes. The leader of them tend to manipulate the followers to create a large political force which can be utilized later to be against the government. In sum, rituals and ceremonies can also be use of spiritual, political or other purposes instead of defining a culture.//这段角度不错

Finally, there are many other means other than rituals and ceremonies to define a culture. To support this point, we should look no further than how language functions when it comes to defining a culture. As we know, different languages are mingled with different styles in it, which is not only reflected on the seeming literal structures but also the way how it carries thoughts. For example, lots of English direct and forthright words such as love, affection, hate and etc. are much more frequently used than their counterparts in Chinese are, because in the cultures where people use English, frankness and forthrightness are worshiped by people while in Chinese culture people are inclined to appear connotative and indirect. The very different ways to express themselves are formulated not in a short period of time but a long history, which at the same time are the emblems of their cultures. Therefore, a culture is not exclusively defined by rituals and ceremonies, to retain the sense of who they are, people does not necessarily rely on rituals and ceremonies.

In conclusion, rituals and ceremonies are not the only approaches to define a culture, thereby maintaining people self-identified senses. Meanwhile, rituals and ceremonies serve for various other purposes besides the reflection of a culture.
文章层次挺清晰的
但是有个比较大的问题就是，你没有论述后半句话，这样应该不行吧？

xiao8686UID: 2266881

谢谢修改，我也是审题失误...倒数第二段快写完的时候才发现第二部分没有论证。

那个  Nor a culture could be defined by them. //这最后一句是何意？

应该是 Nor a culture could only be defined by them. 我掉了一个only

pesticideUID: 2359145

In this issue, the author states that a culture is defined by rituals and ceremonies, without which, societies or a group of people may get lost. However， I fundamentally disagree with the author. As far as I am concerned, rituals and ceremonies do not only function as methods to define a culture. Nor a culture could be defined by them.

First of all, rituals and ceremonies in a certain sense indeed have their effects in defining a culture. As those rituals and ceremonies are mostly (main)forms of celebrations or rites that originated long time ago, while developed with the advancement of a society, they inevitably contain the elements of a certain society. Therefore, the pith of a society which those rituals and ceremonies concern can to some extent represents the society. For example, for hundreds of years, Chinese people celebrate spring festival---the most indispensable holiday of a year, during which, people hold various ceremonies and rituals such as making Chinese complexes, lighting fireworks, eating a feast together with families and handing out moneys to kids. All sorts of forms of rites and customs send the common messages to foreigners of china (in china)that in this culture, people unite and have a great time in these moments of a year. Therefore, to many foreigners of china, celebrating spring festivals has been patented by this culture. (symbol and representative)Anything related to spring festival like the red Chinese complexes remind them Chinese culture.  Clearly, rituals and ceremonies do help to define a culture.

Nevertheless, the purposes of rituals and ceremonies can be much more than defining a culture. In some circumstances, they are celebrated merely out of the spiritual purposes. For example, in many countries, people pray before they have their meals. Such brief rituals they had can hardly speak for the definition of a culture. It is just the personal faith people hold. They thank for god for giving them foods and thereby keep an appreciative attitude toward lives. The succinct ceremony may barely be the incentive of living positively and be driven by the optimistic nature of human beings rather than a essence of a culture. (这句话我没看懂)Sometimes, rituals and ceremonies appear because of several political reasons. For instance, heresies never stop occurring in the history.  Each heresy has its own rites and ceremonies, which mainly cause people to devote them to the organization and then spread its belief to the followers. Yet, many of those heresies like the Falun Gong Heresy in china were established for political purposes. The leader of them tend to manipulate the followers to create a large political force which can be utilized later to be against the government. In sum, rituals and ceremonies can also be use of spiritual, political or other purposes instead of defining a culture.

Finally, there are many other means other than rituals and ceremonies to define a culture. To support this point, we should look no further than how language functions when it comes to defining a culture. As we know, different languages are mingled with different styles in it, which is not only reflected on the seeming literal structures but also the way how it carries thoughts. For example, lots of English direct and forthright words (direct and forthright English words)such as love, affection, hate and etc. are much more frequently used than their counterparts in Chinese are, because in the cultures where people use English, frankness and forthrightness are worshiped by people while in Chinese culture people are inclined to appear connotative and indirect.(favor indirect and implicit expression) The very different ways to express themselves are formulated(formed) not in a short period of time but a long history, which at the same time are the emblems of their cultures. Therefore, a culture is not exclusively defined by rituals and ceremonies, to retain the sense of who they are, people does not necessarily rely on rituals and ceremonies.

In conclusion, rituals and ceremonies are not the only approaches to define a culture, thereby maintaining people self-identified senses. Meanwhile, rituals and ceremonies serve for various other purposes besides the reflection of a culture.

总体很好，不过也有一定问题，正如stonescj 提到的第二句没论述。

xiao8686UID: 2266881

谢谢修改

patented by this culture. (symbol and representative) 我觉得老用symbol representative的比较老套。patented by this culture 不知道地道否，意思就是 被这个culture所上上了专利了.

The succinct ceremony may barely be the incentive of living positively and be driven by the optimistic nature of human beings rather than a essence of a culture.
这句话意思是 这个简短的仪式 可能仅仅是 让我们生活更积极的一个促进剂， 并且这个仪式是为人类乐观的本性，而不是社会的精髓 所驱使。

lots of English direct and forthright words (direct and forthright English words) 这句话我写乱了。
应该是lots of english words are directed and forthright such as .... And they are more ....