TEXTO A Culture and language

CULTURE refers to the customs, practices, languages, values and world views that define social groups such as those based on nationality, ethnicity, region or common interests. Cultural identity is important for peoples sense of self and how they relate to others. A strong cultural identity can contribute to peoples overall wellbeing. Culture is a defining feature of a persons identity, contributing to how they see themselves and the groups with which they identify. Culture may be broadly defined as the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings, which is transmitted from one generation to another. Every community, cultural group or ethnic group has its own values, beliefs and ways of living. Language is intrinsic to the expression of culture. As a means of communicating values, beliefs and customs, it has an important social function and fosters feelings of group identity and solidarity. It is the means by which culture and its traditions and shared values may be conveyed and preserved.

TEXTO B International Marriage EVERY marriage requires commitment, dedication and work. An international/intercultural marriage requires even more attention because of the many obstacles that a couple faces. The obstacles come from family, friends, personal values, expectations, and bureaucratic procedures. Some of the problems these relationships face include: language barrier, differences in values, religious conflicts, sex role expectations, economic adjustments, fear of abandonment by family, friends or spouse, political issues and legal complications To overcome these barriers, intercultural couples need to: learn about one another's cultures, communicate well in at least one language, be open and honest with their families, accept that cultural roots go deep and that people don't change easily or quickly, focus on the positives, Look at what they have in common with one another, talk with one

another about which traditions they want to carry on as a couple and with their children, discuss their expectations in the areas of mealtimes, holidays, finances, sex, chores and roles, look at why it is difficult to let go of a tradition or expectation. It isn't easy to deal with the legacy that we've all grown up with in our ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Couples have said that the first five years of this type of marriage are the hardest. The key to a successful intercultural marriage is to develop understanding and patience.

TEXTO C
Society of the United States THE SOCIETY or culture of the United States is a Western culture, and has been developing since long before the United States became a country with its own unique characteristics and developments such as dialect, music, arts, cuisine, etc. Today the United States of America is a diverse and multi-cultural country as result of mass scale immigration from very many countri es throughout its history. Its chief early influence was British culture, due to colonial ties with the British that spread the English language, legal system and other cultural inheritances. Other important influences came from other parts of Europe, especially countries from which large numbers immigrated such as Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Italy. It also includes migrations from Latin America, Asia; the Native Americans; Africa, especially the western part, from which came the ancestors of most African Americans; and young groups of immigrants. American culture also has shared influence on the cultures of its neighbors in the New World.

The United States has traditionally been known as a melting pot, but recent developments tend towards cultural diversity, pluralism and the image of a salad bowl rather than a melting pot. Due to the extent of American culture there are many integrated but unique subcultures within the United States. The cultural affiliations an individual in the United States may have commonly depend on social class, political orientation and a multitude of demographic characteristics such as ancestral traditions, sex and sexual orientation. The strongest influences on American culture came from northern European cultures, most prominently from Germany, Ireland and Britain. There are great regional and subcultural differences, making American culture mostly heterogeneous.

TEXTO D The Americans see the French as ... Lazy: people who do not work and demonstra te in the streets (when they are not on strike). Coward s: they always surrender, unreliable allies. Rude: anti-American and ungra teful, people who don't speak English, distant and difficult to meet.

Communists: people who live in a bureaucratic socialist system and who are totally dependent on the Sta te. Dirty: people who do not use soap. Arrogant and conceited people, always giving lessons to the others. Not democratic: people who do not respec t religious freedom.

The French see the Americans as ... Arrogant and sure they are always right and good. Moralizing and overly religious. Insular: people who do not know other na tions and whose press never addresses interna tional. Domineering: people who do not take cri ticism. Naive: de grands enfants (ie, people who are naive and have no, or a too short, hi story) . Violent: people who ha ve free access to guns and who use them to shoot each other when things go wrong. Materialistic: people who are arch-capi talists and only think about money.

TEXTO E
Culture of the United States THE DEVELOPMENT of the culture of the United States of America History, Holidays, Sports, Religion, Cuisine, Literature, Poetry, Music, Dance, Visual Arts, Cinema, and Architecture has been marked by a tension between two strong sources of inspiration: European ideals, especially British, and domestic originality. American culture encompasses traditions, ideals, customs, beliefs, values, arts, and innovations developed both domestically and imported via colonization and immigration. Prevalent ideas and ideals from the European continent such as Democracy, Christianity, and

Civil liberties are present as well as those which evolved domestically such as important National holidays, uniquely American sports, proud military tradition, innovations in the arts and entertainment, and a strong sense of national pride among the population as a whole. It includes both conservative elements and liberal elements, military and scientific competitiveness, political structures, risk taking and free expression, materialist and moral elements. It also includes elements which evolved from Native Americans, and other ethnic subcultures; most prominently African American and Latin American culture. Many cultural elements, especially popular culture have been exported across the globe through modern mass media, but a few of the cultural elements have remained rather exclusive to North America. American culture is not static and is developing and changing as the demographic composition of the nation changes due to a rising number of Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States (often illegally) due to deteriorating social and economic conditions in their respective countries.