The nonmaterial or symbolic culture reflects the ideas and beliefs of a culture. One of the most important functions of the symbolic culture is to allow us to communicate -- through symbols, gestures and language. These form the basis of social interaction. While many, many components of the symbolic culture are universal, their meanings change from culture to culture. When in an unfamiliar environment, it's important that you not make rash interpretations about the information being conveyed.
COMPONENTS OF THE SYMBOLIC CULTURE symbols
anything that can carry a meaning
gestures
the way we use our bodies to communicate with each other
language
communication through a system of symbols ... a universal requirement for the survival of a culture
values
culturally defined standards ... define what is right, wrong, good and bad
norms
the rules and expectations we develop based on our cultural values ... determined by a society to guide the behavior of its members
sanctions
what a society uses to reinforce its cultural norms
Symbols -- such as a traffic sign, price tag, sheet of music or product logo -- are designed to meaningfully represent something else. A symbol is something such as an object, picture, written word, sound or particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance or convention. All language consists of symbols. All symbols convey information. Numbers and letters are the most common symbols but you are probably familiar with graphic symbols indicating, for instance, the men's room, elevator direction, a one-way street and etc. We usually take for granted the meaning of most symbols ... and a few symbols are nearly universal in their meanings. The meanings of many symbols, though, are particular to a given culture and it may take some interpretive work to understand what a symbol means if you aren't familiar with the context in which it is displayed.
Gestures are components of the symbolic culture. Gestures are signs that we make with our bodies -- clapping, nodding, smiling and etc. Like symbols, gestures communicate information. Gestures can be as subtle as a "knowing glance" or as obvious as a cocked fist. Gestures are so much a part of a culture that we often view them as universal, a matter of common sense. However, gestures are learned just as language is learned and few gestures have universal meanings. For example, in the US a "thumbs up" gesture conveys support or approval. In parts of southern Europe, Asia and South America that same gesture conveys an obscene or insulting meaning.
EXTERNAL LINKS
Symbols -- Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms
Directory of Signs, Glyphs and Symbols
For Politicians, the Gesture's the Thing: 'The Clinton Thumb'