Some answers to the question of why one cultural pattern is transmitted while another is not, and a consideration of the process of cultural transmission and acquisition, are provided in this examination of the cultural and linguistic situation of the Filipino American population of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area. The discussion is divided into three parts. First, patterns of cultural transmission within the Filipino American community, and their emphasis on social relationships rather than language, are described. Second, the value of a functional perspective, which considers the sociocultural relationships surrounding communication and which appears to provide the most thorough understanding of why some Filipino cultural patterns are transmitted while others (including language) are not, is considered. Finally, the effect of examining the process of cultural transmission and acquisition within the wider social context--i.e. in terms of (1) relative position of an ethnic group within the broader society, and (2) cultural transmission as a holistic approach--is considered. The value of this perspective when examining bilingual-bicultural situations, and its broader implications for studies of the relationship between language and culture, are touched on. (CMG)