Study Guide for Chapters 1-5 of Asking Questions About Cultural Anthropology (Third Edition)

What are the four subfields of anthropology?

Cultural, Archaeology, Biological, and Linguistic Anthropology.

What is cultural relativism?

Understanding cultures within their own contexts without bias.

What are the five characteristics of culture?

Learned, Shared, Symbolic, Integrated, and Dynamic.

Define enculturation.

The process by which individuals learn the cultural norms of their society.

What is participant observation?

A research method where an anthropologist lives among a community to study it.

Why is reflexivity important in ethnography?

It ensures the researcher critically examines their own biases and role in the study.

What are the four main components of language structure?

Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, and Semantics.

What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?

The theory that language influences thought and perception.

Define glocalization.

The adaptation of global influences to local contexts.

How does globalization impact cultural diversity?

It can lead to both cultural homogenization and the revival of local traditions.

What does Cultural Anthropology involve in practice?

Cultural Anthropologists might conduct ethnographic research, exploring societal norms and practices, such as studying traditional rituals in a community.

What does Archaeological Anthropology focus on?

Archaeological Anthropologists excavate historical sites to uncover artifacts, helping understand past human behaviors and cultures.

What is the role of Biological Anthropology?

Biological Anthropologists might study human evolution, genetics, and primatology, such as researching the skeletal remains of ancient populations.

What does Linguistic Anthropology examine?

Linguistic Anthropologists analyze how language shapes social life, such as studying how dialects change within a community over time.

What is anthropology?

The study of humans, their behavior, cultures, and evolution across time and space.

What is phonology?

The study of the sound system of a language, including the rules for combining sounds.

What is morphology?

The study of the structure and formation of words, including the analysis of prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

What is syntax?

The set of rules that governs the structure of sentences, including word order and the relationships between words.

What is semantics?

The study of meaning in language, including how words and sentences convey meaning and the relationships between terms.

What is holism in anthropology?

Holism is the principle of understanding human behavior and culture by considering the whole context, including social, economic, and historical factors.

Define ethnocentrism.

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is superior to others, leading to a biased view of different cultures.

What are common anthropological study methods?

Common methods include participant observation, interviews, surveys, and comparative analysis.

Give an example of participant observation in anthropology.

A cultural anthropologist living in a village to learn about and

What is an example of participant observation in anthropology?

A cultural anthropologist living in a remote village to study its daily practices and social interactions.

How are interviews used in anthropology?

Conducting structured or unstructured interviews with community members to gather personal stories and cultural insights.

What is a scenario where surveys might be used in anthropology?

Administering questionnaires to gauge the attitudes and beliefs of different demographics within a population.

Give an example of comparative analysis in anthropology.

Comparing the marriage customs of two distinct cultures to identify similarities and differences.

What is a practical example of ethnographic research?

An anthropologist studying the impact of tourism on a local community by living there for several months.

What does it mean that culture is learned?

Culture is learned through socialization, where individuals acquire norms and values from their society.

Why is culture considered shared?

Culture is shared among members of a society, creating a collective identity and common practices.

What is the significance of culture being symbolic?

Culture utilizes symbols, such as language and gestures, to convey meaning and represent ideas.

How is culture integrated?

Culture is integrated, meaning its elements are interconnected, influencing various aspects of social life.

What does it mean that culture is dynamic?

Culture is dynamic as it constantly evolves with new experiences, adaptations, and influences over time.

What is acculturation?

Acculturation is the process through which individuals or groups adopt the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.

What is globalization in anthropology?

Globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of cultures and economies across the globe.

Define hybridization in cultural contexts.

Hybridization is the process of blending different cultural influences to create new cultural forms or practices.

What role do symbols play in culture?

Symbols represent ideas and concepts, facilitating communication and understanding within a culture.

How does language function as a cultural tool?

Language serves as a primary means of communication, conveying complex ideas, values, and traditions between individuals and communities.

What is the impact of globalization on local cultures?

Globalization can lead to cultural exchange, but it may also threaten local traditions by promoting homogenization.

How do hybrid cultures emerge?

Hybrid cultures emerge when different cultural influences interact and combine, resulting in new practices and beliefs.

Why are symbols considered powerful in cultural expression?

Symbols carry deep emotional resonance and meaning, often evoking

Why is reflexivity important in ethnography?

It ensures the researcher critically examines their own biases and role in the study

What is phonetics?

The study of the physical sounds of human speech, focusing on how sounds are produced and perceived.

What is an allophone?

A variation of a phoneme that occurs in different contexts but does not change the meaning of the word.

Define morpheme.

The smallest grammatical unit in a language that carries meaning, which can be a word or a part of a word.

What is a free morpheme?

A morpheme that can stand alone as a word, such as 'cat' or 'run'.

What is a bound morpheme?

A morpheme that cannot stand alone and must be attached to a free morpheme, such as 's' in 'cats'.

What is syntax in language structure?

The set of rules that dictates how words combine to form phrases and sentences in a language.

What is transformational grammar?

A theory that posits that the structure of sentences can be transformed into different structures while maintaining the same meaning.

What is the difference between prescriptive and descriptive grammar?

Prescriptive grammar defines rules of usage in a language, while descriptive grammar describes how language is actually used by speakers.

What does pragmatics study in linguistics?

Pragmatics studies the context-dependent aspects of meaning in language, including how context influences interpretation.

Define discourse analysis.

Discourse analysis examines how language is used in texts and conversation, focusing on structures and meanings beyond the sentence level.

What is a syntax tree?

A diagram that represents the grammatical structure of a sentence, showing the relationships between different components.

What is the role of context in semantics?

Context plays a critical role in semantics by influencing how meaning is derived from words and sentences.

What are auxiliary verbs?

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are used with main verbs to express tense, mood, or voice, such as 'is' in 'is running'.

Define phonological rule.

A rule that describes how phonemes can combine or change in specific linguistic environments.

What is code-switching?

Code-switching is the practice of alternating between two or more languages or dialects within a conversation.

What does lexical semantics study?

Lexical semantics studies the meaning of words and their relationships with each other, such as synonymy and antonymy.

What is cultural homogenization?

Cultural homogenization is the process through which local cultures are transformed or absorbed by a dominant culture, resulting in a loss of cultural diversity.

Define cultural hybridization.

Cultural hybridization refers to the blending of elements from different cultures to create new cultural forms.

What is resistance in cultural contexts?

Resistance involves actions and expressions by individuals or groups aimed at preserving their cultural identity against external pressures.

What is revivalism in relation to culture?

Revivalism is the movement aimed at re-establishing and promoting traditional cultural practices and values that may have been diminished.

What does localization mean in the context of globalization?

Localization is the adaptation of global products or concepts to fit local cultures and contexts, ensuring relevance and acceptance