APHUG Unit 3

long-lot settlement pattern

linear settlement pattern where each farmstead is at one end of rectangular lot

• each lot has access to major linear resource (usually river, major road)

material culture

physical objects made and used

nonmaterial culture

non physical elements of culture

e.g. beliefs, values, myths, symbolic meanings

cultural trait

aspect of a culture

local culture

• rural

• ethnically homogenous

• deeply connected to local land

polar opposite of popular culture

indigenous culture

local culture no longer the dominant ethnic group within homeland bc of migration, colonization, or political marginalization

popular culture

• heterogeneous

• shaped by key urban areas

• quick to adopt new technology

polar opposite of local culture

cultural attitudes

shaped by cultural opinions, beliefs and perspectives

language

mutually agreed upon system of communication

polyglots

ppl fluent in more than 2 languages

religion

structured set of beliefs and practices that ppl use to seek mental and physical harmony w/ universe

ethnic group

ppl w/ shared ancestry and cultural traditions

race

historically defined by physical characteristics, especially skin color

ethnic geography

study of spatial aspects of ethnicity

multiculturalism

promoting active participation and inclusion of minority groups

ethnocentrism

evaluation of others’ cultures w/ own’s culture in mind

cultural relativism

seeks to understand culture from a wider perspective of cultural logic

physical landscape

natural physical surroundings that shape society

placelessness

feeling resulting from standardization of built environment

modernist architecture

functional, rational, orderly style

postmodern architecture

reaction against modernist style

• creates spectacle while serving multiple functions

sequent occupance

refers to many places being affected by variety of groups over time

• left history of different land uses

sacred spaces

sites that have religious meaning and seen as important

secular

less influenced by religion

subculture

group of ppl w/ distinct norms, values and material practices that make them different

sense of place

ppl’s perception of a place

• shaped by cultural landscape

placemaking

efforts used to design public places to better serve residents’ needs and foster a stronger community

centripetal forces

brings ppl together and unifies society

e.g. language

centrifugal forces

brings ppl apart

e.g. religion

secularization

process where religion becomes less dominant force in daily life

diffusion

pattern where ideas and practices spread from a location to another thru space and time

absorbing barriers

completely stop diffusion of a cultural trait

permeable barriers

slow diffusion but still allow partial or weakened diffusion

pidgin language

• trade language

• characterized by very small vocabulary derived from at least 2 or more groups in contact

e.g. Tok Pisin, Chinese Pidgin English

creole language

• language with a fuller vocabulary than pidgin

• becomes native language for speakers

creolization

linguistic process where languages intersect and create new languages

lingua franca

languages of communication and commerce spoken across a wide area where it’s not a native language

bilingualism

ability to speak 2 languages fluently

empires

sovereign political bodies that seek to expand their land to control more territory politically or economically

imperialism

expanding country’s influence and land by diplomacy or military force

colonialism

controlling a foreign territory (colony) and sending settlers to reside in the colony

effects of colonialism*

• changes culture of those colonized

e.g. Mexico’s official language = Spanish

• colonizer’s origin country can also change

e.g. London’s Hindu temples

genocide

systematic killing of members of a racial, ethnic, or linguistic group

effects of urbanization*

popular cultures often inspired by urban centers

e.g. Seoul having a greater cultural impact bc it’s more well known

effects of globalization*

• introduce new values

• networking

• local environment can be threatened

time-space convergence

when introduction of new transportation reduces time it takes to travel

effects of technology*

• challenges English as dominant language

• modify way we communicate

  • e.g. emojis

endangered languages

not taught to children by parents and not actively used in everyday life

extinct languages

only a few elderly speakers still living or no living speakers

convergence hypothesis

idea that cultures are becoming more alike

glocalization

adapting global practices to fit local cultural practices and preferences

e.g. Chinese KFC offers youtiao

culture hearth

focused geographical area where important innovations are born and spread from

language family

group of related languages sharing common ancestry

dialect

regional variation that makes mutual comprehension possible

accent

way of pronouncing words

monotheistic

relating to belief in only one god

universalizing religion

actively seeks new members and believes its msg has universal importance

ethnic religion

identified w/ particular ethnic or tribal group and doesn’t seek converts

proselytic

describes religion spreading its msg thru missionary work

Indo-European language family*

• most spoken

• dominant in Europe, Russia, Americas, Australia

• moved by relocation and expansion diffusion

Sino-Tibetan language family*

• second to Indo-European of native speakers

• extends thru China and southeast Asia

• moved along great Asian rivers

Afro-Asiatic language family*

• Semitic languages

  • Middle East and North Africa

• Hamitic languages

  • North and East Africa

e.g. Semitic: Arabic, Hamitic: Tachelhit in Morocco

toponyms

names given to places

generic toponym

generic part of a toponym

e.g. -ville, -town

Buddhism*

universalizing

• began from Hinduism in foothills bordering Ganga Plains

Judaism*

ethnic religion

• parent of Christianity

HInduism*

ethnic religion

• closely tied to India

polytheistic

belief in many gods

animistic religions

believe souls or spirits exist in animals, plants and other parts of nature

how universalizing religions diffuse*

• expansion diffusion

• missionary work

• relocation diffusion

how ethnic religions diffuse*

relocation diffusion

acculturation

ethnic group adopts enough of the ways of host society, to be able to function economically and socially

assimilation

blending in w/ host culture and loss of many culturally distinctive traits

transculturation

belief that ppl adopt elements of other cultures and contribute elements of own culture

syncretism

blending of beliefs, practices, especially in religious context

syncretic religions

combine elements of multiple religions

orthodox religions

emphasize purity of faith and not open to change in beliefs

Mexican Catholicism*

syncretic religion

• indigenous Mexican beliefs blend w/ European Catholicism to create smth new and distinct

Sikhism*

syncretic religion

• combines Muslim and Hindu teachings