Cultural Content of English Textbook's Picture: A Semiotic Psychological Study of the Effect on the Attitudes of the Students

Abstract

The current study investigates the cultural content in some pictures from the first intermediate textbook to teach English (English for Iraq). The study aims to answer the following questions: (1) What type of culture is employed in the selected pictures? (2) what are the dimensions of culture employed in the selected pictures? (3) What semiotic system indicates culture in the selected pictures? To carry out the study, the researcher analyses eight pictures qualitatively using an eclectic model comprising Cortazzi and Jin's (1999) types of culture, Moran's (2001) dimension of culture, and Peirce's (1991) semiotic analysis framework. The analysis revealed that the pictures represent international and source culture types rather than target culture. Also, all culture dimensions are employed except the perspective dimensions. On top of that, the semiotic elements of the sign are the basic ground for cultural representation in the picture selected.