One of the more interesting examples of a subculture in the United States is the Gullah culture of South Carolina. Read about Gullah history, culture, and language at the Web site of the Beaufort County (S.C.) Public Library (http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/htdocs-sirsi/gullah.htm)

1. Click on the "Background" link, and read through the information there. Why is the Gullah dialect so different from English dialects spoken by other African Americans?
2. Do you think it is important that residents of the Sea Islands continue to speak Gullah? Would there be any cultural loss if residents began using mainland dialects of English exclusively? Why or why not?
3. Continue to read "An Example of Gullah." Are you familiar with the terms goober, gumbo, and yam? If you heard someone reciting Bible text in the Gullah dialect, how difficult would it be to understand the words?
4. Scroll back to the top of this page and click on "Recipes." Click on "Recipes" again, and then read through the information on Frogmore Stew. Can you see any ways in which this dish may be related to Gullah culture or to socioeconomic or natural conditions on the Sea Islands? Thinking about your own ethnic culture, can you explain the origins of any traditional foods?
5. Click your browser's Back button twice, and then link to "Religion." Although Baptist and Methodist congregations are prevalent among residents of the Sea Islands, some of their religious traditions and beliefs depart from mainstream Christianity. What are some of these departures, and how might you explain them?

You learn in this chapter both that nonverbal communication is an important element of culture and that there are differences in nonverbal communication around the world. Get an introduction to some common gestures used by the French at http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/topgestures.htm. Click on each of the ten links to common French gestures and then answer these questions.

1. Are you surprised to learn that there are regional variations in the faire la bise gesture? What might be some sociological reasons for the development of these regional differences?
2. Are you familiar with the French pout (faire la moue)—either from movies, books, or real life? Reflect on any connections to stereotypes of French culture.
3. Note the register indications (i.e., normal, familiar, informal). Regarding gestures in American culture, are there gestures that are more or less appropriate, depending on the formality of the context?
4. Do you have any French friends, teachers, or acquaintances whom you've seen performing any of these gestures? If so, in what ways did the gestures add meaning to their spoken words?
5. If you were compiling a list of the ten most common gestures among Americans, what would they be?