8th Standard, Social, Sociology, CHAPTER 24
SOCIOLOGY IN DAILY LIFE
EXERCISES
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. We express our feelings through body language or facial expressions.
2. Sociology enables us to study every subject without any prejudices.
3. Social interaction is communication with more than two people.
II. Answer the following questions:
4. How does sociology enable us to understand the society in our daily lives?
Answer: Sociology provides us with the right information needed for our daily lives. It enables us to study all subjects without any prejudices. We interact with many people in our daily lives. This process is called social interaction. Social interaction involves more than two people communicating among themselves through language and symbols, and influencing one another’s behaviour and thoughts.
5. Give an example to illustrate the importance of language.
Answer: We cannot lead our daily lives without communication. The language that we speak depends on the area we reside in. We learn the language that is suitable for our environment, or else it will be difficult to lead our lives.
6. What is role-consciousness?
Answer: We cannot ask questions about your school lessons to the doctor or cannot ask about our illness to our teacher. That is because we expect the doctor to do his duty towards health, the teacher to teach lessons and the nurse to treat us. We do not get confused about these duties. This performance by every person of his role is known as role consciousness.
Role consciousness means being aware of the duties, responsibilities, and expected behaviors that come with a particular social position, such as being a student, a family member, or a member of a club. It’s understanding what’s expected of you in a specific situation and acting accordingly to fulfill that role.
III. Answer the following in four-five sentences each:
7. Describe the relationship between language and society.
Answer: Language is a tool for social interaction, culture, and identity, while society shapes language through social factors like class, age, and region, and also influences its evolution. This means language reflects and reinforces social structures, and social changes drive changes in how we use language. For example, different social classes might use different dialects, and new technologies lead to new words and abbreviations. Social interaction involves more than two people communicating among themselves through language and symbols, and influencing one another’s behaviour and thoughts.
8. Explain role consciousness with an example.
Answer: Role consciousness means being aware of the duties, responsibilities, and expected behaviors that come with a particular social position, such as being a student, a family member, or a member of a club. It’s understanding what’s expected of you in a specific situation and acting accordingly to fulfill that role. We cannot ask questions about your school lessons to the doctor or cannot ask about our illness to our teacher. That is because we expect the doctor to do his duty towards health, the teacher to teach lessons and the nurse to treat us. We do not get confused about these duties. This performance by every person of his role is known as role consciousness.
IV. Activity:
- Write an essay on your role in society as brother/sister.
Answer: The roles of brother or sister extend from providing emotional guidance and protection to demonstrating values like kindness and responsibility, which can shape the younger sibling’s character and influence their own contributions to the broader community. An older sibling, for instance, might help a younger one with schoolwork or share life experiences, while a younger sibling might offer a new perspective in return. Brothers and sisters serve as a blueprint for each other’s behavior and values. Actions and choices can demonstrate qualities like kindness, honesty, and responsibility, influencing how the other sibling understands and navigates the world. Sharing experiences, from childhood games to adult conversations, creates a bond that provides emotional comfort and a sense of belonging. The communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills honed through a close sibling relationship are transferable and essential for navigating social situations. Siblings learn to communicate their needs and feelings effectively, which is a crucial skill for all future relationships. Navigating the complexities of a lifelong sibling relationship teaches invaluable lessons in understanding and patience.
