; Encyclopedia 99. © 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation). Today many betrothal marriages do not persist, but one custom that lives on is the giving of an engagement ring prior to marriage.
             There are two types of marriages we find in cultures today, and those are love marriages and arranged marriages. Love marriages are when partners find one another, and arranged marriages are when, typically third parties choose the partners (Swaminathan, Internet). In America the most common type of marriage is obviously the love marriage. Although rare fro Americans, the arranged marriage is common in non-industrialized countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and parts of South America (Prater 1994: 1J+)
             The two most prominent countries of Asia that still engage in arranged marriages are Japan and India. Predominantly in Japan most marriages are now love marriages, but estimates vary that 25 to 50 percent of marriages are still arranged (http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/r000153.htm).
             For arranged marriages in Japan, brides work with their parents to put together a resume, so to speak of their daughter. When the bride-to-be reaches the marriag
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