ONION MODEL!!

During this class after the presentation about latin America and latin Europe, we saw a topic that calls my attention so much because even we heard all our career about Hofstede, the “Onion Model” was new for me, this model was creatd to understand the cultures from a visual perspective; Where the human behavior could be explain through layers (as the onion) by in terms of culture.

The outer layers are compose of the patterns of behavior, the more superficial chracteristics, The next layer encompasses the beliefs, norms and attitudes of that culture. The middle of the onion represents the underlying cultural assumptions and values. As the most hidden layer, these aspects of culture are much harder to recognise and understand, but all of the other layers are built upon the centre of the culture onion.

So, to understand cultures  and having it into account is very useful to know how those parts of the culture interact and their significance. Then, we can have a more holistic knowledge to negotiate, travel etc..

Hermeneutics

Understanding and interpretation of inguistic and non-linguistic expressions.  In the course of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, hermeneutics emerges as a crucial branch of Biblical studies. Later on, it comes to include the study of ancient and classic cultures. It important proponents are: Heidegger, Gadamer.

Human being, Gadamer argues, is a being in language. It is through language that the world is opened up for us. We learn to know the world by learning to master a language. Hence we cannot really understand ourselves unless we understand ourselves as situated in a linguistically mediated, historical culture. Language is our second nature.

Another cultural model

Iceberg: This model is also used to elucidate the concept of culture, The image of the iceberg with its small visible part on the surface of the water and the much bigger invisible part below the surface illuminates the different layers of culture. 

The upper portion is the first impression when we face a culture, the music, food, language, The portion below the surface stands for those elements which are not as obvious such as values, beliefs and attitudes.

The behaviour of different cultures may appear less foreign and possibly less threatening with an understanding of their particular worldviews, motivations, religious beliefs, attitudes to rules, and other cultural orientations.