The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning "to cultivate", generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. Different definitions of "culture" reflect different theoretical bases for understanding, or criteria for evaluating, human activity. Anthropologists most commonly use the term "culture" to refer to the universal human capacity to classify, codify and communicate their experiences symbolically. This capacity is long been taken as a defining feature of the genus Homo. However, primatologists such as Jane Goodall have identified aspects of culture among our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.Goodall, J. 1986. The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior.

Defining "culture"

---

More on [ Culture ]

Sify.com News

Vaidyalingam sworn in as Puducherry CM
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:41:01 +0530
V Vaidyalingam was sworn in as Chief Minister of this Union Territory on Thursday by Lt Governor Govind Singh Gurjar.
Sonia Gandhi's plane makes emergency landing at Bangalore
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:01:16 +0530
A private plane flying Congress president Sonia Gandhi from Delhi to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu made an emergency landing at Bangalore on Thursday after it developed a snag in its engine, airport sources here said.
China mine blast toll rises to 27
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:53:10 +0530
The toll in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northeast China rose to 27 with the recovery of the bodies of three missing miners, authorities said on Thursday.
The secret of Potter’s invisibility cloak
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:46:09 +0530
A Chinese researcher has proposed a way to develop an ‘anti-cloak’ that will, in theory, enable people underneath an invisibility cloak to see.
Female stripper booked for raping man at bucks' party!
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:41:22 +0530
A female stripper is facing legal charges after she allegedly raped a man at a bucks’ party.
Couple caught snoozing in the nude in garden!
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:32:25 +0530
A couple in Germany might have experienced the world’s worst hangover after a night out in Hamburg, for they were caught snoozing in the nude in a garden a bit later.

India-The Times of India

Flood situation eases further in Bihar; 7.69 lakh evacuated
The flood situation in five north eastern districts of Bihar eased on Thursday further with water receding in several areas as the Army and Navy contingents evacuated over 7.69 people to safer places.
J&K Muslim League chairman Masrat Alam arrested
Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League Masrat Alam was arrested by the Special operations group of local police from Haft Chinar area of the city, official sources said here.
Ahmedabad blasts: 4 more held with SIMI links

Assam flood situation worsens, death toll mounts
Flood situation in Assam worsened with Brahmaputra and its tributaries breaching more embankments. Death toll in the state has climbed to 16.
US document on N-deal takes nothing away: Kakodkar
Atomic Energy Commission chairman said the US disclosures on the nuke deal do not take away anything India wanted and there was "adequate protection" for its strategic programme in the deal.
BJP forges alliance with AGP in Assam for Lok Sabha polls
The BJP on Thursday forged an alliance with Asom Gana Parishad in Assam for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections but said a decision on seat-sharing will be taken later.

Hindustan Times News Feeds 'India'

Prachanda to visit India on Sep 15
Nepal's PM Pushpa Kumar Dahal 'Prachanda' will arrive in India on Sep 15, the first top-level contact between the two countries since Nepal became a republic and elected a Maoist to head the Govt.
First dengue death in Delhi
The national capital reports its first confirmed dengue death this season, even as an alarming rise in fresh cases is witnessed with 17 more patients testing positive for the disease, taking the total to 108.
Ratan Tata calls on Prime Minister
Ratan Tata calls on Prime Minister
Flood situation eases, 7 lakh evacuated
The flood situation in five districts of Bihar eased with water receding in several areas as over seven lakh people have been evacuated to safer places. Special. | HT helps you reach out to flood victims
Alleged accused Vijay Mandal released on bail
Mandal had moved the bail plea on the ground that the CBI did not have any proof to name him as an accused in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case.
Disclosures in US document routine: Blackwill
Former US Ambassador to India described as "routine" communication the disclosures that Washington could terminate the Indo-US atomic deal if New Delhi conducts a nuclear test in the future.

The Indian Express

On Cabinet table: banning exit, opinion polls once dates are in
With polls in six states including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in November-December this year and general elections early in 2009...
Faces of a leader
The licence to oppose is not one to cause chaos.
Panel wants to put small farmers on govts welfare policy radar
Coming down heavily on the UPA government for its failure to address inequalities faced by small and marginal farmers by its policies and programmes...
CPI (Management)
Singur isn't about Mamata. It's about political economic costs of CPM's Project Bengal
Tide turns in shocked Singur, own supporters tell Mamata to stop
Enough is enough: Singur's message to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was loud and clear today.
Protesting too much
Be it Singur, Narmada or the various SEZ projects, activists are blocking them almost for activism's sake...

Subscribe to India RSS feed