Week 8 - Culture and Landscape Flashcards
culture
refers to the way of life of the members of a society
- dynamic
- difficult to change
cultural trait
a single component of culture
- can include what we wear, what we do, what we value
variations in culture
all cultures share basic similarities but differ in methods used to achieve these
- largely a product of shifting relations to the physical environment
2 forms of culture
material
non-material
material form of culture
- artifacts
all human-made physical objects & elements related to peoples lives and livelihoods
non-material form of culture
mentifacts
sociofacts
mentifacts
attitudinal elements & values -> language & religion
- deals with mental side
sociofacts
norms that are involved in group formation
- deals with social organization
Formal cultural regions (2)
cultural regions
vernacular regions
cultural regions
areas where there is a degree of homogeneity with cultural characteristics or traits
- (depends on which traits are defined)
vernacular cultural regions
may or may not be formally defined
- perceived to exist by those living together or by people elsewhere (Ex: Bible Belt, French Lousiana/Cajun)
Cultural Diffusion
process of spread in geographic space and growth through time
culture is not a thing but ____
an idea, practice or process
What are the basic elements of culture? (5)
- language
- religion
- political system
- kinship ties
- economic organization
cultural adaptation
- allows us to adapt to the changing environment
- refers to changes in attitude and behaviors
language
a learned behavior tied to culture
- encourages interaction within a group and hinders it between groups
2 reasons languages die
economic disadvantage
globalization
+ve & -ve of language loss
-ve = a window on the world \+ve = greater human unity
What is the language of the planet, the first true global language?
english
dominant language (within a state)
the result of a power struggle for cultural and economic dominance
multilingual states
aim to share linguistic and cultural dominance among two or more groups
minority languages
typicaly experience a slow but inevitable demise
3 types of communication between groups
- Lingua Franca
- Pidgin Languages
- Creole
Lingua France
developed to facilitate trade between groups
Pidgin Languages
simplified way of communicating between groups
- typically limited vocab (not native language of speakers)
Creole
when a pidgin language becomes the 1st (native) language of a generation
Toponym
a place name
why do we name places? (2)
- to understand and give meaning to landscape
- to know and control and remove uncertainty about the landscape
what does analysis of a place mean? (2)
- to provide information about spatial and social origins of settlers
- place names are also about power - to rename a place is a significant move
(True/False) It is rarer to see a language arise than demise?
True (street lingo, texting)
Ethnic Religions
linked to a particular group of people and/or place
- not active in conversion
Universalizing Religions
active in conversion and diffusion
ex: Christianity
Why do languages die? (3)
- globalization
- conflict
- natural disasters
Why is it hard for humans to separate themselves from a religion? (3)
- choice to practice a religion freely
- religion a part of state identity
- sacred spaces: places loaded with religious meaning
