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Language and Culture - A Case Study:
The Naxi Minority in China
Essential Question: What is the relationship between language
and culture?
Objectives:
1. To become familiar with the Naxi Dongba pictographic language.
2. To read and analyze an essay about the Naxi ethnic minority.
3. To make connections between the Naxi language and culture.
4. To answer the essential question about the general relationship
between language and culture.
5. To apply the knowledge of Naxi language and culture to understanding
Naxi proverbs.
Materials:
· Naxi pictographs (provided : picture1,
picture2, picture3,
picture4, picture5,
picture6, picture7,
picture8, picture9,
picture10, picture11,
picture12, picture13,
picture14, picture15);
· Reading: "The Naxi Ethnic Minority," available
at www.china.org.cn/e-groups/shaoshu/shao-2-naxi.htm;
· Attached set of questions
about the reading;
· Attached list of Naxi
proverbs;
· A map of China.
Motivation:
Post the pages of pictographs around the room. Ask students to walk
around and find one that particularly appeals to them, copy it in
their notebook and be prepared to tell the class what they liked
about it. After students share their thoughts with the class, ask:
What do you think the pictographs reveal about Naxi culture?
Procedure/Questions:
1. Distribute the reading and related questions.
2. In collaborative groups, students will read the introduction
as well as one of the other sections and answer the corresponding
questions in writing. They should be prepared to jigsaw their answers
with the rest of the class.
3. Debrief.
Summary Question: How much of this information was reflected
in the Naxi pictographs?
Application 1: Put the two words, language and culture,
on the board and ask the class: In general, what is the relationship
between the two words?
Application 2: In the late 1980's, the Chinese government
tried to phase out Naxi language teaching. Do you think this was
a wise decision? What effect, if any, would that have on the Naxi
culture?
Homework: Given the list
of Naxi proverbs, students will write an explanation of each
and interpret what it reveals about the Naxi culture.
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