AP HUG Unit 3 Vocabulary Flashcards
Culture
Shared practices, technologies, attitudes, and behaviors transmitted by the members of a society that are not the result of biological inheritance (socially constructed)
Ethnicity
A group of people who share a common cultural identity associated with geography e.g. Hispanic, German, Italian, Japanese
Race
Historical classification that is used to categorize human populations with shared physical traits (not culture) e.g. American Indian, White, Asian, Black, African American
Cultural Trait
A single attribute of a culture, such as food preferences, architecture, and land use
Ethnocentrism
Judging another culture based on the value’s of one’s own culture (language, religion, customs)
Cultural Relativism
The idea that a person’s beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person’s own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another
Sequent Occupance
The combined imprint on an area when it has been inhabited by a succession of cultures e.g. buildings, transportation systems, farms, irrigation, recreation facilities
Indigenous communities
The original settlers of an area (pre-invasion/colonization) who have retained their culture apart from the colonizers
Ethnic Neighborhood
An area within a city occupied by a distinctive minority culture
Gender Role
Learned behaviors that are deemed appropriate to gender as determined by cultural norms
Gendered Spaces
Areas in which gender expression is either welcome or unwelcome
Sense of Place
Term used to connote attachment to and comfort in a particular place with a strong identity that is deeply felt by inhabitants
Centripetal Forces
Forces that unite a country
Centrifugal Forces
Forces that divide a country
Official Language
The language adopted by law for the use of government business and documents
Standard Language
The accepted language used for government business, education, and mass communications
Cultural Diffusion
The spread of an idea, innovation, cultural trend, or disease from its source area to other areas
Relocation Diffusion
Type of cultural diffusion when an innovation or idea spreads by the actual movement of individuals who have adopted the idea and carry it to a new place
Contagious Diffusion
Type of expansion diffusion where nearly all individuals are affected as it spreads outward e.g. spread of Islam
Hierarchical Diffusion
Type of expansion diffusion when particular groups are affected as it leapfrogs over areas e.g. FAX machines, AIDS
Stimulus Diffusion
Type of expansion diffusion where a small portion of the population adopts an idea or modifies it e.g. vegetable “burgers” in India
Lingua Franca
A language mutually understood by people who speak different languages, usually for the purpose of trade e.g. English as language of international business, Swahili as language of trade in East Africa, Arabic as language of trade in Southwest Asia
Creolization
The blending of European, Amerindian, and African cultures in the new World as a result of colonialism to create something new e.g. Haitian Creole language in the Caribbean, Santeria religion in the Caribbean
Pidgin
A form of speech that adopts simplified grammar and vocabulary of a lingua france to allow speakers of two different languages to communicate
Colonialism
The policy of acquiring control over another country, occupying it with settlers and exploiting it economically e.g. English pilgrims landing in America, Spanish conquistadors landing in America
Cultural Imperialism
Dominance of one culture over another, historically, often occurred as a result of colonization e.g. Spanish and English cultures imposed on the Native People in the Americas, occurs in present day as pop culture which is easily diffused and causes local traditions to become commercialized
Neocolonialism
MDCs controlling LDCs for cheap labor and resources leading to the loss of culture and the increase in globalization
Globalization
The process of increased interconnectedness among countries most notably in the areas of economics, politics, and culture
Cultural Convergence
Cultures become more alike as their interactions increase
Cultural Divergence
The tendency for for culture groups to disassociate from others in order to protect of preserve their culture from influence or change
Local Culture (Folk Culture)
Culture traits of usually small, traditional, homogenous, rural communities e.g. Amish, Hutterite, Mennonite, Inuit
Cultural Revival
Process that works against globalization, promotes cultural distinction and uniqueness
Culture Hearth
The source of civilization: place where a civilization began their ideas and practices spread to surrounding areas
Language Family
A group of languages with a shared but fairly distant origin
Dialect
Variant of a standard language along regional or ethnic lines e.g. differences in vocabulary, syntax, pronunciation, cadence, and pace
Isolated Language
A language unrelated to any other therefore not part of any other language family, group or branch
Religious Branch
A large division within a religion e.g. Catholic/Protestant/Orthodox
Fundamentalism
Literal Interpretation and strict adherence to a religions rules
Monotheistic
Belief in only one god e.g. Christianity, Islam, Judiaism
Polytheistic
Belief in many gods e.g. shinto
Thecracy
Government that bases decisions on religious principles and beliefs e.g. Saudi Arabia, Iran
Toponym
Place-names that can uncover historical information about a place and its origins, such as the language of the original inhabitants and succeeding settlement history and population dispersal e.g. Osceola County, Florida
Universalizing Religion
Religions that actively seek convert because they view themselves as offering belief systems of universal applicability and appeal
Ethnic Religion
Religions that do not actively seek converts and are generally found near the hearth or spread through relocation diffusion
Acculturation
Process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group, but still retain some original uniqueness; often occurs as a result of colonization or immigration e.g. Native Americans forced to learn English language, Chinese immigrant relocates and learns English language
Assimilation
Process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group and cannot be distinguished from anyone else e.g. European immigrants in America
Syncretism
Development of a new cultural trait as a result of the blending of two distinct but interacting cultures e.g. ‘Americanized’ Chinese food, ‘Americanized’ Mexican food
Isogloss
An unofficial boundary that separates regions in which different vocabulary is used to describe the same item or concept
Interfaith boundaries
Conflict between the world’s major faiths e.g. Islam and Judaism in Israel, Hinduism and Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Christians and Muslims in Sudan
Intrafaith Boundaries
Conflict within a single major faith, such as the different denominations of Christianity or the two branches of Islam e.g. Catholics/Protestants in Northern Ireland, Sunni/Shia in Iraq
Sacred Sites (spaces)
Areas/places of religious/spiritual significance, including cathedrals, mosques, temples, and cemeteries e.g. Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Western Wall in Jerusalem
