They can use language to determine connections between different societies, as well as to determine the structure of a particular society by it's use of language. Linguistic Anthropologists studying modern languages often spend time living with the people who speak the language they study, because an understand of the culture is necessary to fully understand the language, and vice-versa. The study of modern societies is a very important aspect to Anthropology. Sociocultural Anthropologists study modern cultures, and try to understand the processes that transform them. They study things as varied as gender relations, resistance movements, and religion.
Some people study aspects of life such as dance and symbolism.
Often, Sociocultural Anthropologists will spend months or years living within a culture, to more fully understand it.