Unit 3-2: Language and Religion - AP Outline

Acculturation

Process of cultural and social change that occurs when two distinct cultures come into contact. Typically, this involves a less dominant culture adopting some of the traits (language, customs, beliefs, technology, etc.) of a more dominant or host culture

Minority or adapting culture retains some aspects of its original culture while incorporating elements from the new one

Assimilation

Process where individuals or groups from one culture adopt the practices, values, and behaviors of another, more dominant culture to the extent that they lose their original cultural identity and become socially or culturally indistinguishable from the host group

Dominant culture completely absorbs a less-dominant culture (usually takes a few generations)

Key Characteristics

• Voluntary - driven by social pressure or economic advantage

• Involuntary - forced/coerced - government policies or colonization

Ethnic Religion

Religion closely identified with a specific ethnic group or culture and is generally not actively seeking converts outside of that group - typically in clustered geographic distribution

Key Characteristics

• Tied to Ethnicity/Culture

• Limited Diffusion - primarily relocation diffusion

• Cultural Landscape - heavily influenced by sacred sights

Syncretism

Blending of two or more cultural traits, beliefs, or practices to form a new, unique cultural expression or system

Key Characteristics

• Blending/Fusion - creation of something NEW from existing parts

• Combines elements of distinct traditions

• Often occurs in areas of cultural contact and exchange

Time-Space Convergence (Time-Space Compression)

Refers to the reduction in the time it takes to travel between two places due to innovations in transportation and communication technologies

Key Characteristics

• Transportation - physically reduces travel time 

• Communication - improves access to information and connections almost immediately

Toponyms

Name given to a specific place or geographic feature

Key Characteristics

• Migration and Origin - names related to homeland of settlers

• Historical Events/Values - important people, historical events, or values associated with the location

• Physical Features - natural environment

• Linguistic Heritage - names reveal dominant or previous languages spoken in the area

Universalizing Religion

Belief system that attempts to appeal to all people, regardless of their ethnicity, location, or culture. These religions actively seek converts and spread globally

Key Characteristics

• Global Appeal

• Missionary Work - actively seeking to convert individuals

• Clear Hearth - precise, identifiable point of origin

• Diffusion - Relocation (migration/missionaries) and Expansion (contagious, hierarchical, stimulus)

Multiculturalism

A set of policies that promote the active participation and inclusion of minority groups in national histories, national politics, and cultural institutions with the goal of embracing difference with society

Presence and active support of multiple, distinct cultural groups coexisting within a single society (cultural pluralism)

Examples of Multiculturalism

• Ethnic Enclaves/Neighborhoods

• Bilingual or Multilingual Signage

• Diverse Architecture

• Diverse Cuisine (restaurants and grocery stores)

Cultural Convergence

Process where different cultures become more similar as they interact and share ideas, values, and practices. Essentially, it's the blending or fusion of cultural elements across societies

Key Drivers of Cultural Convergence

• Globalization - increased interconnectedness of the world through trade, travel, and global communication networks

• Technology and Media - Internet, social media, global media networks - instant sharing

• Migration and Travel - people bring cultural traits to new places where interaction and merging with local practices

• Urbanization - Cities are hubs where diverse populations accelerate cultural mixing

Cultural Divergence

Process where distinct cultural groups become increasingly different from one another over time - divergence happens when factors cause cultures to separate, isolate, or actively resist outside influences, leading to the development of unique and distinct cultural traits

Key Factors Driving Cultural Divergence

• Geographic Isolation - physical barriers (mountains/oceans/deserts)

• Social/Political Separation - strong nationalist movements or political division (North/South Korea)

• Cultural Resistance/Revival - efforts to preserve traditional customs and practices in the face of globalization

Cultural Hearth

Geographic origin or birthplace of a significant cultural trait, idea, religion, social practice, or innovation, from which it then spreads to other regions

Early Civilization Cultural Hearths - Mesopotamia, Nile River, Indus Valley, Huang He (Yellow River) Valley, Mesoamerica

Modern Cultural Hearths - New York City, London, Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles

Indo European Language Diffusion - Kurgan Model

• Most widely accepted hypothesis for explaining the origin and diffusion of the Indo-European language family

• Hearth located north of Caspian Sea by Russia/Kazakhstan

• Pastoral nomadic group called the Kurgans

• Relocation diffusion driven by the conquest or military superiority of the Kurgan people (use of HORSES)

Indo European Language Diffusion - Anatolian Model

• Hearth located in present day Turkey (Asia Minor)

• Nomadic group called the Anatolians

• Farmers who migrated/diffused language into Europe and Asia using agricultural (farming) methods