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Secularization
The process whereby religion becomes a less dominant force in everyday life than it was in the past
Absorbing barriers
Barriers that completely halt diffusion
Permeable barriers
Barriers that slow diffusion but still allow some partial or weakened diffusion
Pidgin
A trade language, characterized by a very small vocabulary derived from the languages of at least two or more groups in contact
Creole
A combined language that has a fuller vocabulary than a pidgin language and becomes a native language
Creolization
The linguistic process where languages converge and create new languages and forms of communication
Lingua franca
A language of communication and commerce spoken across a wide area where it is not a mother tongue
Bilingualism
The ability to speak two languages fluently
Empire
A sovereign political entity that seeks to expand beyond its origin territory to control more territory politically and/or economically
Imperialism
The motivating impulse to control greater amounts of territory
Colonialism
The act of forcefully controlling a foreign territory, which becomes known as a colony
Genocide
The systematic killing of members of a racial, ethnic, or linguistic group
Time-space convergence
The phenomenon whereby the introduction of new transportation technologies progressively reduces the time it takes to travel between places
Endangered language
A language that is not taught to children by their parents and is not used actively in everyday matters
Extinct language
A language that has only a few elderly speakers still living or no living speakers
Convergence hypothesis
The idea that cultures are converging or becoming more alike
Glocalization
Adapting global practices to fit local cultural practices and preferences
Cultural hearth
A focused geographic area where important innovations are born and from which they spread
Language family
A group of related languages that share a common ancestry
Dialect
A regional variation of a language that is understood by people who speak other variations of that language
Accent
A way of pronouncing words
Monotheistic
Relating to the belief in only one god
Universalizing religion
A religion that actively seeks new members and believes its message has universal importance and application
Ethnic religion
A religion identified with a particular ethnic or tribal group that does not seek converts
Proselytic
Describing a religion that spreads its message to others through missionary work
Toponyms
The names given to places
Polytheistic
The belief in many gods
Animistic religion
A faith that subscribes to the idea that souls or spirits exist not only in humans but also in animals, plants, rocks, natural phenomena such as thunder, geographic features such as mountains or rivers, and other entities of the natural environment
Acculturation
Occurs when an ethnic or immigrant group adopts enough of the ways of the host society to be able to function economically and socially
Assimilation
Occurs when an ethnic or immigrant group blends in with the host culture and loses many culturally distinctive traits
Transculturation
The notion that people adopt elements of other cultures as well as contribute elements of their own culture, thereby transforming both cultures
Syncretism
The blending of beliefs, ideas, practices, and traits, especially in a religious context
Syncretic religion
Religion that combines elements of two or more different belief systems
Orthodox Religion
Religion that emphasizes purity of faith and is generally not open to blending with elements of other belief systems
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