Culture

Culture is a term used to describe all aspects of a society's way of life: language, beliefs, marriage and family customs, food, clothing, art, music, unwritten law, and the systems of thought by which people judge what is possible and what is acceptable. Culture is not something one is born with, but rather something learned—children acquire it from their family, their peers, school, and media.

Anthropology and sociology employ this term in a technical manner. Two broad usages exist: a wide definition meaning everything a society produces, and a narrower definition limited to art, literature, and creative work. These two meanings overlap when culture policy is discussed.

Categories of culture

Many scholars divide culture into two aspects. The material aspect comprises physical objects: buildings, tools, clothing, weapons, and handicrafts. The non-material aspect includes values, beliefs, society's rules, and language. The two are interconnected: every object carries cultural meaning, and technological change often brings changes in thought.

Language and transmission

Language is the principal means by which culture is stored and transmitted. In societies that rely on oral tradition—of which Somalia is one—poetry, narratives, proverbs, and genealogies preserve history, law, and local knowledge. Writing, print, and digital media have expanded the reach of information to larger audiences, but have also shifted control over what is recorded.

Change and contact

Culture changes over time. Change is brought about by internal innovation, trade, migration, conquest, and contact between different societies. The adoption of cultural elements from another society is called acculturation. When a smaller group encounters a larger one and loses its distinctive features, the process is called assimilation. Change is not always gradual: groups with greater economic and media power can have disproportionate influence.

Preservation and policy

International organizations, notably UNESCO, operate programs to preserve both tangible heritage (historical sites) and intangible heritage (customs, techniques, music). Governments employ culture as part of nation-building, which sometimes creates disputes over which cultural elements deserve official recognition in how the country represents itself.