The use of the word 'prototype' in the new Subject Guide has been bothering me. My initial sense of the word was equivalent to the first of the definitions given by the OED - "a first or preliminary version of a device or vehicle from which other forms are developed : ' the firm is testing a prototype of the weapon' ". Discussion with various groups of teachers has confirmed (merely anecdotally) that this is the most common usage of the word. This meaning clearly doesn't seem to fit with the way the term is used in the new Guide (p.22), where it is used as the recommended approach to replace 'stereotypes' - "It is better that cultural prototypes be identified, rather than stereotypes ..."

But what is a 'cultural prototype' and where can we find them ? The OED's second definition is a bit more helpful - "the first, original, or typical form of something; an archetype: 'these objects are the prototypes of a category of rapidly spinning neutron stars' ". In contrasting 'stereotype' and 'prototype', the Guide seems to be referring to generalisations or images or views of a culture, so "typical form of something" would appear to be related to such a concept. However, (a) the OED's 'form' does not seem to be quite the same thing as a (subjective) 'image' or 'view' - note that the example is scientific; and anyway, (b) both 'prototype' and 'stereotype' can be seen as 'typical forms' - it's just that one is considered a Good Thing and the other is considered a Bad Thing. Can we clarify the distinction?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary online echoes the OED, but reverses the order :-

1: an original model on which something is patterned : archetype

2: an individual that exhibits the essential features of a later type

3: a standard or typical example

4: a first full-scale and usually functional form of a new type or design of a construction (as an airplane)

Definitions 1, 2, and 4 all refer to the concept of 'original', and this relates to the idea of purposive design. The root of my problem is that I don't believe that cultures are 'designed' - by whom? when? how? In addition, both 'prototypes' and 'stereotypes', in relation to cultures, would seem to be highly subjective - and the definition of 'standard or typical example' doesn't help us that much, since there are inevitably questions about 'standard by which criteria?' and 'typìcal to whom?' So what exactly are these 'prototypes' that the Guide is recommending to us?

However ... all of us must admit, honestly, that we do indeed adopt 'standard or typical' ideas about cultural groups as part of our world view. We naturally tend to assume that Americans behave like that, and Spaniards behave like this, and muslims believe that. So, clearly, 'stereotype' and 'prototype' refer to some concept which is a psychological reality - but what exactly is that concept, and how does it work?

I note that both the OED and Merriam-Webster refer to the term 'archetype' - " the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies", according to Merriam-Webster. My difficulty with this term is partly that 'archetype' for me is deeply connected with Jung, and I'm not sure that helps us much; and partly that there is an implication of permanence in Merriam-Webster's sweeping definition which doesn't fit with my view that cultures are permanently evolving in an uncontrolled and uncontrollable way - I don't see neat 'original patterns'.

A final angle of attack on the problem: Merriam-Webster helpfully provides lists of synonyms for each of the two key terms :-

prototype :  case, exemplar, exemplification, illustration, instance, example, representative, sample, specimen

stereotype :  concept, conception, generality, notion, generalization

I note that M-W's synonym list for 'prototype' focuses on specific examples, and the list for 'stereotype' focuses on grand abstractions ... which seems a little counter-intuitive? Or perhaps not - might it be that the whole point of the distinction is that 'prototypes' are related to observation of the real world, whereas 'stereotypes' tend to spring from unsupported psychological drives and conceptualisations? This would fit with my interpretation that "we should employ accurate concepts of a culture, founded on good evidence, rather than caricatures, founded on little or no evidence"  (from Intercultural Dimension ) 

Well, the jury is still out as far as I'm concerned ... watch this space! You'll find more debate about this in the pages Intercultural Dimension and Stereotype Jokes #1.