American culture: traditions and customs

Ðàçìåùåíî íà http://www.allbest.ru/

ÌÈÍÈÑÒÅÐÑÒÂÎ ÎÁÐÀÇÎÂÀÍÈß È ÍÀÓÊÈ ÐÎÑÑÈÉÑÊÎÉ ÔÅÄÅÐÀÖÈÈ

ÏÅÍÇÅÍÑÊÈÉ ÃÎÑÓÄÀÐÑÒÂÅÍÍÛÉ ÓÍÈÂÅÐÑÈÒÅÒ

Êàôåäðà «Ïåðåâîä è ïåðåâîäîâåäåíèå»

Êóðñîâàÿ ðàáîòà

ïî äèñöèïëèíå «Èñòîðèÿ è êóëüòóðà ñòðàí èçó÷àåìîãî ÿçûêà»

íà òåìó «American culture: Traditions and Customs»

Âûïîëíèë ñòóäåíò:

Êðàñíîâà È.Î.

Ðóêîâîäèòåëü:

Õàéðîâà Õ.Æ.

2016



Contents

Introduction

1. Traditions of the United States

1.1 Religion

1.2 Language

2. Hey, Hey man, or Hi

2.1 American cuisine

2.2 Education system

2.3 Holidays

2.4 Sport

3. Customs of the USA

3.1 American lifestyle

3.2 American family

Conclusion

References



Introduction

The main purposes of my work are acquaintance and studying traditions and customs of this nation.

Every nation has different customs and traditions. I would like to tell you about Americans. In Europe there are people who have lived in the same house and been in the same job for 20, 30 or more years. That's not the American way of life. The Americans love change, they call it the spirit of adventure, a spirit that they think is more characteristic of America than of Europe. They like to move away, to change houses and jobs.

While the Englishman thinks it is ill mannered to ask private questions, the American doesn't feel that at all. He will tell you all about himself, his wife and family, and ask where you have come from, what your job is, how you like America and how long you are staying. The American prefers sociability. In his home he doesn't object to being seen by everyone -- he actually likes it.



1. Traditions of the United States

The USA is a nation of immigrants, and thus, comprises a country with varied cultures and traditions. The 3rd largest in the world, the USA is a welcoming nation of people from all walks of life.

The most multicultural nation in the world, the American identity is influenced by almost every other culture. Asian, European, African American, and South American cultures are evident in many of the country's cultural elements. A country that's open to all religions, nearly every kind is practiced with complete acceptance and tolerance. Because of the varied nationalities, there are many differences in lifestyles such as having both conservative and liberal political views, and both family-oriented and individualistic values.

1.1 Religion

The Americans are very religious people. Church plays a great role in the life of every citizen. The government of the country endorses the freedom of choice of the religion, and, as a result numerous religious sects have appeared here. The largest one is known as Mormon's sect. The representatives of this sect travel all over the world to spread Mormonism among other people.

Nearly every known religion is practiced in the United States, which was founded on the basis of religious freedom. About 83 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, according to an ABC poll, while 13 percent replied that they had no religion at all. Another poll in 2012 reported similar findings. It also found that Judaism is the second most-identified religious affiliation, at about 1.7 percent of the population. Only 0.6 percent of respondents identified as Muslim.

Early in their history, Americans rejected the concept of the established or government-favored religion that had dominated. Thus, separation of church and states are the key concept in American government and culture. Separation of church and state was ordained by the First Amendment to the U.S.A.

The largest religion in the US is Christianity, practiced by the majority of the population (nearly 76.5% in 2001). Roughly 51,3% of Americans are Protestants, 23,9% are Catholics, and 1,7% are Mormons(the name commonly used to refer to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and 1,6% to various other Christian denominations. Christianity was introduced during the period of European colonization.

The Protestants. One of the first permanent settlements in what became the North American colonies was founded by English Puritans, Calvinists who had been outsiders in their homeland, where the Church of England was established. So Protestants were the dominant religion in the early days. Protestants remain a powerful national group. Out of the all the men who have been presidents of the United States, only one (John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic) was not either a Protestant or from a Protestant family background.

The Roman Catholics. Few Roman Catholics are of English or Scottish descent, hence Roman Catholics tend to have separate ethnic identification than most Protestants, at least in the larger cities. Most people of Irish, Italian, Hispanic and Eastern European descent, with some Germans, are Roman Catholic. Catholics believe the Church is appointed by God as custodian of the Bible to interpret the scripture.

The Mormons, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are by far the largest in the “other Christians” category with 3 500 000 adherents. The church was founded in western New York State in 1830 by Joseph Smith, who claimed to have received his authority by direct divine bestowal. Mormons believe in the Bible and in their own complementary work, The Book of Mormon. They believe in immortality and in the need for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They believe that people travelled to ancient America from Israel to settle and that some of them were prophets. A prophet named “Mormon” wrote the Book of Mormon which God preserved on gold plates for Joseph Smith to find in 1820 and translate. The Book of Mormon shows how Jesus Christ visited ancient America after his Ascension.

Religion in the United States is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. Various religious faiths have flourished within the United States. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a very important role in their lives, a proportion unique among developed countries.

1.2 Language

Official language of the United States is English. While almost every language in the world is spoken in the United States, Spanish, Chinese, French and German are among the most frequently spoken non-English languages. Ninety percent of the U.S. population speaks and understands at least some English, and most official business is conducted in English.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that more than 300 languages are spoken in the United States. The bureau divides those languages into four categories: Spanish; other Indo-European languages, which includes German, Yiddish, Swedish, French, Italian, Russian, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi, Greek and several others; Asian and Pacific Island languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Tamil and more; and "all other languages," which is a category for languages that didn't fit into the first three categories, such as Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, languages of Africa and languages of native people of North, Central and South America.

The most common language in the United States is known as American English. However, no official language exists at the federal level. There have been several proposals to make English the national language. Proposed constitutional amendments have been attached to immigration reform bills, and one came from the Polish American Congress, but none of these bills have become law with the amendment intact. The situation is quite varied at the state and territorial levels, with some states mirroring the federal policy of adopting no official language, others adopting English alone, others officially adopting English as well as local languages, and still others adopting a policy of bilingualism.

Spanish is the second most common language in the country, and is spoken by approximately 35 million people. The United States holds the world's fifth largest Spanish-speaking population, outnumbered only by Mexico, Spain, Colombia, and Argentina; other estimates put the United States at over 50 million, second only to Mexico.

Native American languages are spoken in smaller pockets of the country, but these populations are decreasing, and the languages are almost never widely used outside of reservations.

One more important part of this section is greetings in America. English speakers don't always say “hello” and “how are you?” They also use many other English greetings and expressions to say slightly different things.



2. Hey, Hey man, or Hi

You can use “hey” and “hi” to greet someone instead of “hello”. Both are particularly popular among younger people. While “hi” is appropriate to use in any casual situation, “hey” is for people who have already met. If you say “hey” to a stranger, it might be confusing for that person because he or she will try to remember when you met before! You can also add “man” to the end of “hey” when greeting males. Some people also use “hey man” to casually greet younger women, but only do this if you know the woman very well. Remember that “hey” doesn't always mean “hello”. “Hey” can also be used to call for someone's attention.

1. How's it going? or How are you doing?

These are casual ways of asking “how are you?” If you're trying to be particularly polite, stick with “how are you?” but otherwise, you can use these expressions to greet almost anyone. The word “going” is usually shortened, so it sounds more like “go-in”. You can answer with “it's going well” or “I'm doing well” depending on the question. Although it's not grammatically correct, most people just answer “good” - and you can too. Like when responding to “how are you?” you can also follow your answer by asking “and you?”

2. What's up? What's new? or What's going on?

These are some other informal ways of asking “how are you?” which are typically used to casually greet someone you have met before. Most people answer with “nothing” or “not much”. Or, if it feels right to make small talk, you could also briefly describe anything new or interesting that's going on in your life, before asking “what about you?” to continue the conversation.

3. How's everything? How are things? or How's life?

These are some other common ways of asking “how are you?” They can be used to casually greet anyone, but most often they're used to greet someone you already know. To these, you can answer “good” or “not bad”. Again, if small talk feels appropriate, you could also briefly share any interesting news about your life, and then ask the person “what about you?” or another greeting question.

4. How's your day? or How's your day going?

These questions mean “how are you?” not just right now, but how you've been all day. You would use these greetings later in the day and with someone you see regularly. For example, you might ask a co-worker one of these questions in the afternoon, or a cashier that you see at the grocery store every evening. “It's going well” is the grammatically correct response, but many people simply answer with “fine”, “good” or “alright”. By the way, notice that “good”, “fine” or “not bad” are perfect answers to almost any greeting question.

5. Good to see you or Nice to see you

These casual greetings are used with friends, co-workers or family members that you haven't seen in a while. It's common for close friends to hug when they greet each other, particularly if they haven't seen each other in some time; so you might use this greeting along with a hug or handshake depending on your relationship with the person.

6. Long time no see or It's been a while

These casual greetings are used when you haven't seen someone in a long time, particularly if you meet that person unexpectedly. How much is a long time? It depends on how often you normally see that person. For example, you could use one of these greetings if you normally see the person every week, but then don't see them for a few months or more. Usually, these phrases are followed with a question like “how are you”, “how have you been?” or “what's new?”

2.1 American cuisine

American cuisine has been influenced by Europeans and Native Americans in its early history. Today, there are a number of foods that are commonly identified as American, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf. "As American as apple pie" has come to mean something that is authentically American.

There are also styles of cooking and types of foods that are specific to a region. Southern-style cooking is often called "American comfort food" and includes dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas and corn bread. Tex-Mex, popular in Texas and the Southwest, is a blend of Spanish and Mexican cooking styles and includes items such as chili and burritos and relies heavily on shredded cheese and beans.

Jerky, dried meats that are served as snacks, is also a food that was created in the United States, according to NPR.

Some dishes that are typically considered American have their origins in other countries. American cooks and chefs have substantially altered these dishes over the years, to the degree that the dishes now enjoyed around the world are considered to be American. Hot dogs and hamburgers are both based on traditional German dishes, but in their modern popular form they can be reasonably considered American dishes. tradition education holiday sport

Pizza is based on the traditional Italian dish, brought by Italian immigrants to the United States, but varies highly in style based on the region of development since its arrival. For example, "Chicago" style has focus on a thicker, taller crust, whereas a "New York Slice" is known to have a much thinner crust which can be folded. These different types of pizza can be advertised throughout the country and are generally recognizable and well-known, with some restaurants going so far as to import New York City tap water from a thousand or more miles away to recreate the signature style in other regions.

Many companies in the American food industry developed new products requiring minimal preparation, such as frozen entrees. Many of these recipes have become very popular. For example, the General Mills Betty Crocker's Cookbook, first published in 1950, was a popular book in American homes.

2.2 Education system

United States of America has one of the most effective educational systems in the world because it ensures quality to the children of the country. The system is highly sophisticated and constructed with special care given to the educational needs of the student community. The Federal Government has enforced strict laws to make sure that each and every person is benefited with basic knowledge regardless of their financial conditions. After completing the post-secondary education, one can move on to pursue the graduate, doctorate and even post-doctorate studies.

· Entry Level Education. Children in the United States enter public education through pre-schools and kindergarten at the age of 3, although it is not mandatory. The Head Start Pre-School funded by the Federal Government caters to the requirements of kids belonging to low income families.

· Education in School. The schooling years begin in August-September, just after the summer season. It is divided into twelve grades which are distributed among three parts - primary school (first five years), middle school (6th to 8th grade), junior high school (7th to 9th grade) and high school (9th to 12th grade). All basic subjects are taught in elementary school. Except for special areas such as physical education, library, music and art, teaching takes place in classrooms. The curriculum is determined by individual districts. According to the 'No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Program', the committees of all schools should meet the Adequate Yearly Process (AYP) to settle on common learning standards.

· Advanced Courses. Many high schools provide Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses as well. These include a more challenging curriculum and are considered equivalent to the first year of college. These courses can be taken in the 9th, 11th or 12th grades of high school. The AP or IB results are taken into consideration for post-secondary admissions. Home schooling is also common in the United States. People opt for this concept owing to religious and moral reasons.

· University Education. After completing post-secondary education, students can further proceed to university education. on completing the undergraduate study, they will be conferred with a Bachelor's Degree. Graduate students can then proceed for post graduate studies to obtain a Master's degree. Doctorate and post-doctorate program follow, if they wish to pursue an in-depth knowledge in their subject area.

Admission to university depends on various factors like high school course of study, high school Grade Point Average (GPA), participation in extracurricular activities, SAT or ACT exam scores, college admission essays and personal interview (optional).

Students can enroll in professional degrees of law, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry etc. either after their post-secondary education or after completing their graduation (depending on the program). Enrollment into graduate courses again depends upon standardized entrance tests such as Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Medical College Admission test (MCAT), Law School admission Test (LSAT) etc.

2.3 Holidays

The population in the USA is made up of people of different nationalities. Centuries ago they brought with them their native celebrations. Some holidays, which are marked in the United States, were originated in America.

One of the greatest holidays is Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. It proclaimed independence of the thirteen British colonies from Great Britain. July 4th has become the greatest holiday since. In the past this day was marked with big parades and fireworks, but now it is celebrated more quietly. Cities and towns are decorated with flags on that day, there are parades in some places, but most people just go on picnics to the countryside.

Thanksgiving Day is marked on the fourth Thursday of November. On this day Americans honor the memory of the first settlers. It also marks the end of the harvest season. It is a long-standing tradition to make a festive meal with a fried turkey on this day. After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, they turned for help to neighboring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition -- not only because so many other Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their freedom still captivate the imagination. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion.

Christmas (December 25) is a religious holiday, which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ. By this day people decorate fir-trees with toys. Children wait for Santa Claus who comes to every house and brings them present. Before going to bed, children leave their shoes to find in them what they want most of all the next morning. Some people, especially young people, like to celebrate it in restaurants and pubs, but most people prefer to stay at home with their family on this day.

On New Year's Day people see the old year off and the New Year in. Most people stay up all night, even children. At midnight many people go outside and shout `Happy New Year!' Some people set off fireworks and blow automobile horns which are heard everywhere. Everybody exchanges presents and good wishes. Offices, factories, banks and stores do not work on this day. In New York, a lot of people gather in Times Square, and watch the `Big Apple's fall. It is a moving picture of an apple on the side of the big building in Times Square. Every New Year's Eve during the last few seconds before the midnight it starts to `fall down' the building, and when it gets to the bottom it's the start of the New Year.

Easter, which falls on a spring Sunday that varies from year to year, celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious services and the gathering of family. Many Americans follow old traditions of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving children baskets of candy. On the next day, Easter Monday, the president of the United States holds an annual Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn for young children.

Memorial Day: Celebrated on the fourth Monday of May, this holiday honors the dead. Although it originated in the aftermath of the Civil War, it has become a day on which the dead of all wars, and the dead generally, are remembered in special programs held in cemeteries, churches, and other public meeting places.

Presidents' Day: Until the mid-1970s, the February 22 birthday of George Washington, hero of the Revolutionary War and first president of the United States, was a national holiday. In addition, the February 12 birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the president during the Civil War, was a holiday in most states. The two days have been joined, and the holiday has been expanded to embrace all past presidents. It is celebrated on the third Monday in February.

Labor Day: The first Monday of September, this holiday honors the nation's working people, typically with parades. For most Americans it marks the end of the summer vacation season, and for many students the opening of the school year.

Veterans Day: Originally called Armistice Day, this holiday was established to honor Americans who had served in World War I. It falls on November 11, the day when that war ended in 1918, but it now honors veterans of all wars in which the United States has fought. Veterans' organizations hold parades, and the president customarily places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

Columbus Day: On October 12, 1492, Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed in the New World. Although most other nations of the Americas observe this holiday on October 12, in the United States it takes place on the second Monday in October.

Halloween is not an official holiday. Government offices and businesses are open as usual and public transit services run on regular schedules. Halloween is usually celebrated amongst family, friends and, sometimes, co-workers. However, some areas hold large community events. Parties and other events may be planned on October 31 or in the weekends before and after this date. Adults may celebrate by watching horror films, holding costume parties or creating haunted houses or graveyards. Many children dress up in fancy costumes and visit other homes in the neighborhood. At each house, they demand sweets, snacks or a small gift. If they do not get this, they threaten to do some harm to the inhabitants of the house. This is known as playing 'trick-or-treat' and is supposed to happen in a friendly spirit, with no nasty or mean tricks being carried out. However, if your children take part, it is important to accompany them and to check their 'treats' to make sure they are safe to eat or play with.

St. Valentine's Day falls on February 14, and it is the traditional day on which lovers in certain cultures let each other know about their love, commonly by sending Valentine's cards, which are often anonymous. The history of Valentine's Day can be traced back to an obscure Catholic Church feast day, said to be in honor of Saint Valentine. The day's associations with romantic love arrived after the High Middle Ages, during which the concept of romantic love was formulated. The day is now most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, the practice of hand writing notes has largely given way to the exchange of mass-produced greeting cards. The Greeting Card Association estimates that, world-wide, approximately one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

2.4 Sport

The United States is a sports-minded country, with millions of fans who follow football, baseball, basketball and hockey and other sports. Baseball, which was developed in colonial America and became an organized sport in the mid-1800s, is known as America's favorite pastime, although its popularity has been eclipsed by football for the past three decades.

American Football is the most popular sport in America. Football is also the 9th most popular sport all around the world. The biggest competition organized under National Football League (NFL). The football is more popular in Southern areas of America, like Texas, Florida and California.

The people of America are not just watching the football at their homes. Fans are coming by the thousands to watch games on stadiums. In 2012 the league had an average attendance of 67,604 fans at each game that is more than any other sport league in the world.

Baseball is the second most popular sport in America. Baseball is also known as United States' national pastime. In America there are two levels of baseball competition: 1) minor league baseball; 2) major league baseball (MLB). Popularity of baseball is not just in America but all over the world. Huge number of audience following baseball matches.

Basketball is the most popular sport in America after football and baseball. Basketball's competitions organized under National Basketball Association (NBA). With estimated of 14,000 attendance per match basketball is the 3rd most popular sport in America.

Hockey is the most popular in areas of North America (particularly Canada and northern parts of the United States) and Europe. In North America, the National Hockey League (NHL) is the highest level for men's hockey and the most popular. America won its first Gold Medal in Winters Olympics. With the introduction of artificial ice rinks, hockey has become a one of the most popular pastime indoor sport today.

Tennis is the next sport in the list of most popular sports in America. Tennis is equally popular among men and women. Superstars like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Andy Roddick and others are the currently inspiration for youngsters in America. United States has had a glorious record in tennis.

Golf is the 7th most popular sport in the USA. Tiger Woods arguably the most popular contemporary Golf figure in United States. Golf is also the 8th most popular sport in the world. The USA is a special place to play, watch, and enjoy golf. America boasts 17,000 courses on which to play the game, is the heartbeat of the sport at professional level, host of three of the four men's Major Championships, and home to many of the finest players - male or female - to have played the sport.

Motorsport including auto-car and motorcycle racing, it is the 9th sport in the list. NASCAR is the biggest organization in the USA, which organize races in America. Motorsport is the 2nd most watched sport after Football in America. Americans, like the rest of the world, initially began using public streets as a host of automobile races. As time progressed it was soon discovered that these venues were often unsafe to the public as they offered relatively little crowd control. Promoters and drivers in the United States discovered that horse racing tracks could provide better conditions for drivers and spectators than public streets.



3. Customs of the USA

Speaking about the customs of the USA, it is important to consider the characteristic peculiarities of the American nature. Who is a typical American? What associates more than three hundred million people living in this country and what makes them such a strong nation?

Let us recall the historical events that have contributed to the early formation of the country. It is a well-known fact, that it was European invaders who had settled in North America. Those who came to conquer the New World had to create everything by themselves, endure hunger, battles with natives and hard times in general. Persistence, self-confidence and endurance - these traits of character are inherent to real Americans. Furthermore, these people are mostly individualists, freedom-lovers and risk-takers.

There are some facts about American customs:

· Greetings are very informal and people usually take a handshake and say "Hello".

· Saying "How are you?" is a form of greeting and is usually answered with an "Okay," or "Fine." Most often than not, it is not an invitation to narrate your life events but a mere polite way of saying "Hi."

· When invited to a dinner party, it is customary to bring gifts such as wine or flowers.

· Americans are very direct and straightforward. Beating around the bush is considered a waste of time.

3.1 American lifestyle

The typical American is brash, friendly, competitive, industrious, impatient, spontaneous, optimistic, patriotic, wealthy, serious, demonstrative and fun-loving person.

There's one single motivation uniting all Americans, it's their desire to be rich and famous (I want it all now). It's the American Dream to be rich (Americans live on dreams, particularly rags-to-riches dreams) and money is openly admired and everyone's favourite topic. Many Americans will do (almost) anything for money.

Americans are the greatest consumers in the history of the world and their primary occupation is spending money - when not spending money they're thinking about spending it. In the US, everything and everyone is a commodity to be bought and sold for dollars (Americans believe every man has his price). Displaying the correct `labels' is vital, as your status is determined by what you wear, drive, inhabit or own. Status is everything to Americans, who buy more status symbols than any other nation and believe there's no point in buying anything expensive if it isn't instantly recognizable and desirable. Ostentatious consumption is the order of the day (if you've got it, flaunt it!) and modesty is un-American and to be condemned. Most Americans can never have too much money and firmly believe that anyone who thinks money cannot buy happiness has simply been shopping in the wrong places.

Size is everything and bigger is always better; big cars, big buildings, big homes, big jobs, big pay checks, big cities, big stores - everything is big (most things in the US come in three sizes: big, huge and gigantic!). To Americans, size and quality are inextricably linked and your success in life is illustrated by the size of your office and the number of zeros on the end of your salary (Americans are impressed by numbers). Americans are continually `trashing' or trading in last year's model, whether it's their car, home or spouse.

When an American buys a new toy or car, friends and acquaintances are summoned from miles around to admire it and hear what it cost (provided, of course, that it was expensive). Money is the measure of your success and wealth announces that you're one of life's winners (as Americans are fond of saying "If you're so smart, how come you is not rich?"). Americans not only believe that you can have everything, but that you owe it to yourself to have it all: beauty, education, fame, health, intelligence, love, money, etc. If they cannot have it all, most Americans will settle for money.

Americans generally believe that the ideal person is an autonomous, self-reliant individual. Most Americans see themselves as separate individuals, not as representatives of a family, community or other group. They dislike being dependent on other people or having other people be dependent on them. Some people from other countries view this attitude as selfish; others view it as a healthy freedom from the constraints of ties to family, clan or social class. Individual freedom is an important American value, but newcomers may find themselves overwhelmed by the legal and bureaucratic restrictions on their activities and confused by the complexities of social interaction.

Americans are taught that all people are created equal. Although they continually violate that idea in some aspects of life, in others they adhere to it. They treat each other in very informal ways, for example, even in the presence of great differences in wealth or social standing. From the point of view of some people from other cultures, this kind of behavior reflects lack of respect. From the point of view of others, it reflects a happy lack of concern for social ritual. Americans, as a rule, generally think nothing about starting a casual conversation with a complete stranger; this is usually meant as a sign of friendliness. Should strangers smile at you, it is a sign of welcome and acknowledgment of your presence. It is not necessarily an invitation to speak, nor is it a sign of insincerity when they do not acknowledge your presence.

Americans are more concerned with honesty than with saving face. They often discuss topics which may be embarrassing to people in many other cultures. Americans are taught from birth that “honesty is the best policy” even if the truth “hurts.” This sometimes requires straddling a very narrow path between openness, which is considered a virtue, and tactlessness, which is not. In an effort to get directly to the point, Americans tend to take verbal shortcuts and are perfectly comfortable dispensing with background details and polite social conversation. Americans measure truth by the accuracy of facts rather than by the expression of a feeling or an impression.

Friendships among Americans may be shorter and less intensive than those among people from many other cultures. Because they are taught to be self-reliant and because they live in a mobile society, Americans tend to compartmentalize their friendships, having friends at work, friends from school, and so on. It has been said that Americans are very friendly but have a great deal of difficulty forming deep interpersonal commitments. Deep and lasting friendships do exist, but they take time to grow.

3.2 American family

The family remains central to US society, and more than half of unmarried adults between the ages of 18 and 24 still live with their parents. Even so, the American family has changed considerably in recent decades. Today only about one-quarter of all households consist of a traditional nuclear family, and more than half of all households have no children. One out of every four children is born out of wedlock, and there has been a large increase in the number of single-parent families.

A major percentage of all working Americans are women. In many households where both the husband and wife work outside the home, men are expected to share household duties. Men have also been playing an increasing role in raising their children. With both parents working, the use of, and need for, day care facilities are increasing; this is especially true for single-parent families. Among the growing proportion of the elderly population, many prefer to live in their own homes and maintain their independence. Those who cannot care for themselves may live in retirement communities or other institutions, or with their adult children. However, extended families are not common in the US. The US family is more mobile than in many other societies. It is common to move from one region of the country to another for education, employment, or simply a change of climate and scenery. Some people may move 15 times or more during a lifetime. Although many couples choose to live together before, or instead of, marriage, the marriage rate is one of the highest in western societies-but the divorce rate is also the world's highest. Weddings vary in style according to religion, region, ethnic origins, and wealth. Both religious and secular people may be legally authorized to perform weddings. The average age for marriage is 26 for men and 24 for women.

The Americans prefer to live in the suburb in private houses. Practically each family keeps weapons for security. Rights of men and women are equal. The Americans have the cult of home and do their best to be good family men.

Today's typical American family is not the traditional one with Daddy at work, Mommy in the kitchen, and several children playing in the backyard. Approximately 51% of American families have no child at the age of 18 living at home. Because of the high divorce the large number of children born out of wedlock, 24% (15 million) of American children live with only one parent, usually their mother.

The contemporary American child doesn't have a lot of companion­ship from brothers and sisters because the average family has only one or two children. With so many women working full time, five or six million preteens come home from school to an empty house. Because of the high divorce rate and the trend toward having fewer children the American household is now smaller than it has ever been, down to a statistical average of 2.6 people. Most American children live with their parents at least until they finish high school at age 17 or 18. Then, many go away to college, leaving some parents sad and lonely in their empty nest and others enjoying their release from parental responsibilities. However, many young single adults stay with their parents during their college years or return home after graduation. The high cost of housing keeps many young adults in their parents' home until they get married. Today's parents cannot even be sure that their married children have moved out forever. After a divorce, adults may return to the parental home temporarily or even on a long term basis especially if they are lonely, short of money, or in need of baby-sitting grandparents.



Conclusion

Finishing my work, I would like to say that American culture is various and required a special studying. The United States is the third largest country with a population of more than 320 million. Because of this, the United States is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, as it is a country of immigrants, most notably the English who colonized the country.



References

1. Smith, Andrew F. (2004). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

2. Lippy, Charles H., ed. Encyclopedia of the American Religious Experience (1988)

3. Bailey, Richard W. Speaking American: A History of English in the United States (2012) 20th-21st century usage in different cities

Ðàçìåùåíî íà Allbest.ru