Chapter 6 Flashcards
Lectures 1 and 2
a single element of a culture, such as a tradition, belief, or custom, that defines a particular aspect of that culture. Smallest distinctive item of culture–regular occurrence.
cultural trait
consists of a group of interrelated culture traits that collectively define one specific cultural practice or aspect.
Culture Complex
a broader framework that encompasses various culture complexes, traits, and the social institutions that influence a particular culture.
Culture System
is a geographical area characterized by the presence of certain cultural traits or complexes that distinguish it from other regions.
Culture region
is a larger area that includes multiple culture regions that share common characteristics, such as language, religion, or customs.
Culture realm
refers to the process by which cultural traits, ideas, or innovations spread across space from one location to another, influencing different areas.
Spatial Diffusion
is the blending of different religious, cultural, or philosophical beliefs and practices, resulting in new, hybrid forms of expression.
Syncretism
is the process by which individuals or groups from one culture adopt traits from another culture while still retaining their original cultural identity.
Acculturation
suggests that cultures merge and create a new, distinct culture, often through intermarriage and social integration.
Amalgamation Theory
the process by which individuals or groups from one culture become absorbed into another culture, often losing their original cultural identity in the process.
Assimilation
Variations of a language that are specific to a particular region or social group, often distinguished by vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
Dialects
Place names that provide insights into the history, culture, and characteristics of a location.
Toponyms
is the point at which the effects of distance begin to significantly impact interactions, relationships, or behaviors between people or entities. Beyond this distance, communication and connectivity may diminish.
Critical distance
is the principle that the likelihood of interaction or connection between two entities decreases as the distance between them increases. The further apart they are, the less likely they are to engage with each other.
Distance decay
A form of spatial diffusion where an idea or innovation spreads rapidly and widely through a population, often in a manner similar to a virus.
Contagious Diffusion
A form of spatial diffusion where ideas or innovations spread from larger, influential nodes or cities to smaller, less influential ones, often following a hierarchy.
Hierarchical Diffusion
What type of culture: material, sociological, ideological?
anything tangible
material
What type of culture: material, sociological, ideological?
mannerisms, family structure, gender roles, etiquette,
sociological
What type of culture: material, sociological, ideological?
values (religion, respect for environment or people, honor and shame etc.)
ideological
Distinctive culture traits of societies and regions is related to:
cultural diversity
4 types of cultural diversity
Language
Religion
Ethnicity
Gender
Organized verbal communication with mutual comprehension
language
the most important medium by which culture is transmitted
language
Cause and symbol of cultural differentiation
language
Majority of languages are spoken on which two continents?
Africa and Asia
How many approximate languages are spoken in the world?
7100
You can track what through language?
history
what is a speech community
group that speaks a common language
a speech community consists of what two things?
standard language and dialects
what is standard langauge
comprises accepted community norms of syntax, vocabulary, pronunciation
examples of standard langauge
yall, gimme, hafta, wanna, gonna, gotta, etc
ordinary speech of areal, social, professional or other subdivisions of the general population (variant)
dialect
most dialects exhibit _____ ______
spatial patterns
two ways language can spread and change
- Dispersion & acquisition
- Segregation & isolation
what type of language change does this describe: Gradual changes over time ; Mutually incomprehensible; Remote locations, time
Segregation and isolation
Think of shakespearean english
What can affect endangered languages?
Many languages are ______
Regions with ______ populations/tribes
Isolated & _______
Urbanization & ________
Lack of _______
Nearly _____ of languages are at risk
disappearing
small
remote
migration
transmission
½
true or false: Native Hawaiian language at risk of becoming extinct
true
what does friction of distance mean?
distance reduces interaction
What is friction of distance influenced by?
Cost, effort, means
Amount of human interaction is a function of what two things?
- the distance between two places
- population numbers
Object or event perceived as far away
psychological distance
In psychological distance effort is measured in terms of
time-distance
Tobler’s First Law of Geography
Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things
Further distances rely on…
news, phone, internet
In terms of distance, what is the most important?
Face-Face
Internet, cell phones, telecommute jobs are examples of
telecommunications
What increases spatial interaction exponentially
telecommunications
Caused decentralization to suburbs (urban sprawl)
cars
4 Barriers to Interaction
Physical Barriers, Political Barriers, Cultural Barriers, Cost & Means
What type of barrier to interaction?
Mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts
Physical
What type of barrier to interaction?
Distance to friends, Frequency of other interactions: phone, social media, Favor short distance interaction
Cost and Means
What type of barrier to interaction include:
Language Differences
Religious Practices
Social Norms and Customs
Political or Historical Tensions
Ethnic Differences
Cultural
What type of barrier to interaction include:
Bans on specific literature genres
Restrictions on social media
China, Venezuela, Russia
Impede cultural contact
Fortified borders
Political
Spatial diffusion continues until (2)
it hits barriers
saturated
Type of diffusion:
Hierarchical occurring with contagious; Common in dense populations; Spread to top of hierarchy first (ex. large cities), then by contagious nearby
Hierarchical diffusion
Choose an example of cultural syncretism and explain how different cultures have blended to create something new. Provide details of the cultures involved, diffusion types, and the outcome of this cultural syncretism.
Example: Voodoo in New Orleans
Cultures: Blending West African spiritual practices with French Catholic and Caribbean influences. Details: Enslaved Africans brought their religious beliefs, which gradually merged with Catholic saints and rituals, creating a unique spiritual system.
Diffusion types: This spread through contagious diffusion within local communities and spatial diffusion as practices moved from port areas to other parts of New Orleans and surrounding regions.
Outcome: The result is a distinct form of Voodoo that is now a key part of New Orleans’ cultural identity, showcasing a mix of African, Catholic, and local elements.
Collective beliefs, symbols, values, forms of behavior, and social organizations
Culture
How is culture complex
It is understood differently by casual observer vs. participant
Role and interrelationships of individuals and groups
social structure
Culture is generally not _____
because there are competing ______ within overarching culture
homogenous
subcultures
culture region is based on:
single culture traits
culture complexes
political, social, or economic integration
Culture _____ can be very generalized & misleading
Realm
What influences rate of change in culture (5)
Innovation
Spatial Diffusion
Acculturation
Assimilation
Cultural Syncretism (exam ?)
Cultural _____:
People congregate and derive meaning from the spaces they occupy in common and mark these spaces as places by “stamping” their culture into it.
Landscape
