Unit 3: Culture & Language Flashcards
culture
central to its society + identity of it’s people, as well as it’s continued existence
Analyzing culture: visible force
seen (tangible) in a group’s actions, possessions & influence on the landscape
Analyzing culture: invisible force (intangible)
guiding people through shared belief systems, customs & traditions
culture hearth
the area in which a unique culture or a specific trait develops
- ex: Classical Greece was a cultural hearth for democracy more than 2000 years ago
Globalization
the increased integration of the world economy since the 1970s.
- It has had profound impacts on culture.
where do elements of popular culture often begin & diffuse quickly through?
they often begin in urban areas + diffuse through globalization processes such as the media & Internet
- examples of popular culture: clothing, music, movies, types of businesses
with people in many nations wearing similar clothes, listening to similar music & eating similar food, popular cultural traits often promote what?
they often promote uniformity in beliefs, values & the cultural landscape across many places.
cultural landscape (also known as the built environment)
modification of the environment by a group & is a visible reflection of that group’s cultural beliefs + values
traditional culture typically exhibits horizontal diversity, what’s meant by the latter?
meaning each traditional culture has its own customs & language that makes it distinct from other groups
- ppl within in the group are usually homogenous
- homogenous = horizontal diversity
- not spread as quickly
popular culture typically exhibits vertical diversity, what’s meant by the latter?
that modern urban societies are usually heterogenous within the society & usually contain numerous multiethnic neighborhoods
artifacts
tangible objects that are part of material culture.
- can be unique to a particular culture, or can be shared
English as a Cultural Artifact
The ability to read, write & understand English is an important artifact of global popular culture due to its widespread influence.
Mentifacts & list examples
intangible aspects of nonmaterial culture including beliefs, values, practices, and aesthetics.
Unique vs. Shared Mentifacts
Some mentifacts are unique to a culture (e.g., specific deities in a religion).
Some are shared across cultures (e.g., belief in 1 or many gods).
Sociofacts
ways people organize their society & relate to one another
- embodied through: families, govs, education systems & other social constructs
Unique vs. Shared Sociofacts
Some sociofacts are shared across cultures (e.g., the importance of family).
Others are unique (e.g., different family structures in various cultures).
Folk Culture
refers to the beliefs & practices of small, homogeneous groups, often living in rural, isolated areas.
It’s typically traditional & slow to change, with limited influence from modern technology.
Indigenous Culture & list 2 examples
When members of an ethnic group reside in their ancestral lands & typically possess unique cultural traits, such as speaking their own exclusive language.
- Native Americans in the U.S such as the Navajo
- 1st Nations of Canada, such as the Inuit
List 2 examples of Cultural Landscapes
Protected Wildness Area in the U.S
- Significance: Land set aside from developments reflects the
desire to preserve unique environments
Office Buildings in Shanghai
- Significance: Massive skyscrapers reflect economic power & a
desire to have a prestigious location
What does traditional architecture reflect, the materials used & built with what in mind?
- reflects a local culture’s history, beliefs, values & community
adaptions to the environment - typically utilizes locally available materials
- usually built w/ the utility to ppl & community as a central focus
When is postmodern architecture made from & includes what kind of designs?
- made from large amounts of steel & glass sliding
- has evolved to also include more use of curves, bright colors &
large glass atriums that bring light into spaces
Contemporary Architecture
- an extension of postmodern architecture
- uses innovative designs to create buildings that rotate, curve &
stretch the limits of size and height.
What do postmodernism & contemporary downtown skylines reflect?
they reflect businesses & corporations
Cultural Regions & list an example
are based on traits like language, religion, and ethnicity.
They may cross political borders, like in El Paso, Texas, where people speak both Spanish & English and connect with both Mexico & the U.S..
Culture realms
large geographic regions where cultures within the larger realm have some similar common traits
Diaspora
occurs when 1 group of people is dispersed to various locations
Charter group
1st group to establish cultural & religious customs in a space
What does the cultural landscape of charter groups show?
their heritage
Ethnic groups that arrive after the charter group may create a distinctive space with their own customs. What are these called in urban areas?
ethnic neighborhoods
In rural areas, what do ethnic concentrations form?
ethnic islands, and because they’re in rural areas, they have less interaction w/ other groups than groups in cities, therefore maintaining a strong & long-lasting sense of cohesion.
Who are ethnic neighborhoods in urban settings often occupied by?
migrants who settle in a charter group’s former space
Discrimination may limit the housing choices for members of a particular group.
The most notable example of this were the practices in many cities that limited the neighborhoods were African Americans could live in the U.S. At the national scale, where was this concentrated?
in the Southeast U.S
Discrimination may limit the housing choices for members of a particular group.
The most notable example of this were the practices in many cities that limited the neighborhoods were African Americans could live in the U.S. At the state scale, where was this concentrated?
often clustered in large cities
Sequent occupancy
the process in which ethnic groups move in & out of neighborhoods + create new cultural imprints on the landscape
As a result of global culture + changing occupancy patterns, the ideas, traditions, + history of communities can erode. Define neolocalism.
process of re-embracing the uniqueness + authenticity of a place.
What is religion often closely linked to?
ethnicity, or membership in a group of people who share characteristics such as:
- ancestry
- language
- customs
- history
- common experiences
List a few aspects of centriPeTal forces.
- common language + religion
- shared heritage + history
- ethnic unity + tolerance
- a just + fair legal system
- a charismatic leader
List a few aspects of centriFugAl forces.
- diff. languages + religions
- a separate past
- ethnic conflict, racism
- unequal applications of laws
- dictatorial leadership
Every religion includes followers who practice fundamentalism. Define fundamentalism.
an attempt to follow a literal interpretation of a religious faith
Theocracies
countries whose governments are run by religious leaders through the use of religious laws, such as Iran
Cultural relativism
the concept that a person’s or groups’ beliefs, values, norms & practices should be understood from the perspective of the other group’s culture.
Groups have developed their identities often thru years—if not centuries—of?
- environmental adaption
- interaction w/ other cultures
- changing internal attitudes
- technological innovation
Cultural appropriation is the action of adopting traits, icons, or other elements of another culture. When does this become a great concern?
when the trait is adopted by the majority culture from a minority, or oppressed, cultural group.
Diffusion
spread of info, ideas, behaviors & other aspects of culture from their hearths to wider areas
CONtagious diffusion
when a cultural trait spreads CONtinuously outward from its hearth through CONtact among people.
EXpansion diffusion is the spread of cultural traits outward through EXchange w/o migration & requires a diff. person to adopt the trait. It occurs in many traits like?
1) Contagious diffusion
2) Hierarchical diffusion
3) Reverse Hierarchical diffusion
4) Stimulus diffusion
Relocation diffusion
spread of culture and/or cultural traits by ppl who migrate & carry their cultural traits w/ them.
List an example of contagious diffusion.
Disease, Memes & Viral Videos, and Islam
Hierarchical diffusion
ideas spread hierarchically – starting with someone of power in society & spreading down the social hierarchy to some people.
It can also spread outward from large cities to smaller towns.
Most of which culture follows the hierarchical diffusion path?
Popular culture, such as music, fashion + fads, follows hierarchical diffusion.
Reverse hierarchical diffusion
a trait diffuses from a group of lower status to a group of higher status.
List an example of reverse hierarchical diffusion.
Walmart
it started in a small, rural town in Arkansas & slowly moved to other small towns & then eventually, slowly reached larger cities & even other countries today.
Stimulus diffusion
the full idea doesn’t spread, but the main or underlying idea from a culture hearth spreads
- ex: McD’s in India doesn’t sell beef burgers as Hindus view cows as holy.
What are the methods of imperialism?
includes influencing another country/group through direct conquest, economic control, or cultural dominance.
Colonialism
particular type of imperialism in which ppl move into & settle on the land of another country
Why are modern European imperialism & colonialism relevant to the current political map?
Because they strongly influenced the diffusion of language & religion that applies til today.
before European colonization, most religions practiced by the native indigenous ppl of Africa + North America were forms of animism. What’s animism?
the belief that non-living objects, such as rivers or mountains, possess spirits.
How did European colonizers impact indigenous cultures and religion?
European colonizers imposed their cultural traits, forcing indigenous populations in Africa and North America to adopt Christianity.
- The Spanish and French spread Catholicism.
- The English and Dutch spread Protestantism.
How did colonialism spread languages through political control?
Colonial powers imposed languages hierarchically as the language of trade, business, and politics.
What 3 things have played a powerful role in spreading religion + culture?
1) colonialism
2) imperialism
3) trade
Lingua Franca
a common language chosen or adopted for communication among speakers of different native languages.
How have globalization and technology contributed to English as a lingua franca?
International business: U.S. & British multinational corporations use English.
Global communication: Scientists, airline pilots, and journalists rely on English.
Internet & media: English dominates social media, the internet, TV, and movies.
Pidgin Language
A simplified mix of 2 languages used for basic communication with no native speakers.
Creole Languages & list an example
fully developed, stable languages that evolve from pidgin languages & have native speakers
- Haitian Creole (French + West Africa) & Afrikaans in South
Africa
the greater interconnection between places that results from improvements in transportation is called?
time-space convergence
Cultural convergence
cultures are becoming similar to each other & sharing more cultural traits, ideas & beliefs
How can cultural convergence impact traditional cultures?
It can cause indigenous or traditional cultures & languages to become extinct as global influences replace local customs, such as people worldwide wearing jeans & t-shirts daily instead of traditional clothing from their ancestors or parents.
How can technology help preserve cultures in the face of cultural convergence?
People use technology & social media to document and protect local languages and traditions at risk of disappearing.
Cultural divergence
the idea that a culture may change over time as the elements of:
- distance
- time
- physical separation
- & modern technology create divisions & changes.
What’s the unifying language of Latin that diverged into dozens of distinct regional languages known as?
romance languages
Accents & what they reflect
how words sound when pronounced.
They often reflect social class or geographic region.
isoglosses
the boundaries between variations in pronunciations or word usage
sayings that attempt to express a truth about life
distinct adages
How is a country’s standard dialect chosen?
It’s usually based on the dialect of the most influential group, with others seen as variations
What do signs reflect?
ppl’s linguistic heritage & tie to that place–from the single-language signs in France to bilingual signs in places like Belgium, Quebec, or Wales.
list 2 examples as to how toponyms can provide insights into the physical geography, history, or culture of a location/region.
- in 657 B.C.E, the Greeks founded a colony that they named Byzantium, after a leader named Byzas.
- When the city under Roman control, it was re-named Constantinople, after the Roman emperor Constantine.
- When the Turks seized the city in 1453, they started to call it Istanbul, which means “to the city.”
List 3 reasons why countries establish official languages.
To maintain homogeneity (e.g., Iceland, Japan, Slovenia).
To promote assimilation (e.g., UK with Ireland, Scotland, and Wales).
To ensure inclusivity, cultural preservation, and equality (e.g., Zimbabwe with 16 official languages).
ethnic religions
belief traditions that emphasize strong cultural characteristics among their followers.
- rarely recruit new followers actively
- they spread as a result of relocation diffusion
Universalizing religion
religions that seek to appeal to all people & to spread their teachings & beliefs to as many ppl as possible
ex: Christian, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism
Universalizing religions have spread far from their original hearths bc existing members feel a mandate to spread their beliefs to others. How do members carry out this mandate?
they often serve as missionaries who both perform charitable works & convert non-believers
pilgrimage
a religious journey taken by a person to a sacred place of his or her religion.
What is the effect of globalization on cultures?
Globalization leads to the homogenization of cultures, making people from different cultures more alike
What are some potential losses caused by cultural homogenization?
Losses of indigenous languages, religious practices, unique architectural styles, artistic expression, etc
acculturation
the process by which an ethnic or immigrant group moving to a new area adopts the values & practices of the large group that has received them, while maintaining valuable elements of their own culture.
ex: when children or families speak their native language at home but at school or work, they speak English
assimilation
when an ethnic group can no longer be distinguished from the receiving group
syncretism
fusion or blending of 2 distinctive cultural traits into a unique, new hybrid trait
ex: blending of American fast food with cuisine from another culture, like Taco Bell
Holidays, like Christmas, are a blending of a German tradition (decorating a tree), a Turkish belief (St. Nick—Santa Claus), a Christian doctrine (birth of Jesus) + American commercialism.
Glocalization
form of syncretism that involves the creation of products or services for the global market by adapting them to local cultures.
ex: how McD’s created the Mcafé idea of designer coffees & pastries to attract customers in France.
Multiculturalism
the co-existence of several cultures in 1 society with the ideal of all cultures being valued & worthy of study.
When does assimilation often occur?
as ethnic groups become more affluent + leave their ethnic areas
what does nativism reflect?
a general dislike of ppl from other countries, or xenophobia
Language Evolution: Proto-Tongue
original language
Language Evolution: Language Divergence
occurs when speakers of the same language scatter & develop variations of that original form of the language to meet their needs in the new surroundings.
Language Evolution: Language Shift and its Causes
When speakers come into contact with other languages, blending of 2 or more languages can occur.
Occurs when:
- Invaders replace the language of the places they conquer.
- New language dominates over the original language.
Language Evolution: Reverse Reconstruction
the process of tracking a language’s diffusion
List the top 5 native languages.
- English
- Mandarin Chinese
- Hindi
- Spanish
- French
The Indo-European Family & List a major language within the family
- is the largest language family in the world, with about 50% of people speaking an Indo-European language.
- ex: English is a major language within the family, specifically part of the Germanic branch
Proto-Indo-European & How it spread
is the original language from which modern Indo-European languages evolved.
- it spread through migration of speakers.
Multilingual States
are countries in which more than 1 language is spoken
often contain linguistic minorities, or groups of speakers who are outnumbered by speakers of another language in the country
when there are power imbalances among linguistic groups, this can lead to conflict over language + its ties to national identity + power
Monolingual States
contain speakers of only 1 language
purely monolingual countries no longer exist bc of the increasing pace of spatial-cultural interaction globally
countries like France have fought to preserve their monolingual heritage
ex: French politicians have called for laws to keep French pure + prohibit the infusion of English words into their vocabulary
