AP HUG Unit 3 terms

Language

A system of communication using symbols, sounds, and gestures shared by a group.

Language as nonmaterial culture

Language is a system of communication, not a physical object.

Most common language family

Indo-European, spoken in Europe, the Americas, parts of South Asia, and Australia.

Language evolution

Language evolves with migration, conquest, and cultural contact.

Centripetal force of language

Unites people in a state through shared communication. Example: French in France.

Centrifugal force of language

Can divide people if multiple languages are spoken in one state. Example: Belgium (French vs. Flemish).

Language family, branch, group

Family: Broadest category, e.g., Indo-European; Branch: Subset of a family, e.g., Germanic; Group: Closely related languages, e.g., West Germanic (English, German, Dutch).

Largest language family

Indo-European.

Second largest language family

Sino-Tibetan.

Indo-Iranian languages

Come from the Indo-European family.

Tower of Babel

God confused human language to scatter people across the earth, explaining linguistic diversity.

Factors for different languages

Isolation of groups, migration, cultural interaction.

Reconstructing extinct languages

Linguists use written records, cognates, and comparative methods; reconstructed common ancestor called a proto-language.

Number of languages in the world

~7,000; possible that all came from one Proto-Indo-European.

Spread theories for Indo-European

Kurgan/Nomadic Warrior Theory: Spread by migration and conquest from the steppes of Central Asia; Anatolian/Sedentary Farmer Theory: Spread through farming from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey).

Languages of Madagascar & Hawaii

Austronesian language family; spread via migration across the Pacific.

English history

Originally spoken in England by Anglo-Saxons; Norman Conquest in 1066 introduced Norman French; English is a syncretic language (Germanic + French + Latin).

Most commonly spoken language

English (when including second-language speakers); most native speakers: Mandarin Chinese.

U.S. language trends

1980: Second most common - Spanish; 2010: Most common - English; Second - Spanish; reflects waves of migration.

Dialect vs. language

Vocabulary differences, pronunciation differences, grammar differences; mutual intelligibility: Ability of speakers of different dialects/languages to understand each other.

Accent vs. dialect

Accent = pronunciation; Dialect = grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Creole language

Stable language formed from pidgin + native language

Example of Creole language

Haitian Creole

Syncretism

French + African languages

Pidgin language

Simplified communication tool between speakers of different languages

Example of Pidgin language

Nigerian Pidgin

Difference between Pidgin and Creole

Pidgin is not fully developed, creole is

Diffusion & English

English is a lingua franca globally

Language convergence

Technology + media leads to decline of folk languages

Language isolate

A language unrelated to others

Example of Language isolate

Basque (Spain/France)

Endangered languages

Clustered in isolated areas, belong to local/folk or indigenous cultures

Comeback example of an Endangered language

Hebrew (Israel)

Dead language

No native speakers (Latin)

Definition of a Dead language

A language dies when it is no longer learned by children

Importance of religious tolerance

Promotes peace, coexistence, and human rights

Religion & U.S. founding

Religious freedom was a major principle; George Washington supported freedom of religion

Purpose of religion

Latin root: "religio" = reconnect humanity to the divine; provides moral guidance, social structure, and meaning

World's six major religions

Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism

Animism

Belief that objects, places, and creatures have spirits

Atheist

Believes no gods exist; some form churches for community

Agnostic

Unsure whether gods exist

Universalizing religions

Actively seek followers; often diffuse via relocation and hierarchical diffusion

Ethnic religions

Associated with a specific group; often diffuse relocation diffusion

Hinduism

Ethnic, polytheistic; Holy Book: Vedas; Karma, reincarnation, caste system; Diwali = Festival of Lights

Buddhism

Universalizing; Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha); Four Noble Truths: Life has suffering → cause → end → Eightfold Path; Reject caste system, vegetarianism

Judaism

Ethnic; Cultural + religious identity; Dietary laws: Kosher; Founder: Abraham; Hearth: Israel

Christianity

Universalizing, monotheistic; Founder: Jesus Christ; Trinity, Ten Commandments; Orthodox/Catholic/Protestant split 1054 (Great Schism); Spread via missionaries, colonization

Islam

Founder: Muhammad; Universalizing, monotheistic; Five Pillars: Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj; Branches: Sunni, Shia; Dietary restrictions: Halal

Sikhism

Founder: Guru Nanak; Universalizing, monotheistic; Five K's: Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kirpan, Kachera; Hearth: Punjab, India

Mormonism

Founder: Joseph Smith; Universalizing, monotheistic; Hearth: U.S., Utah; Dietary restrictions: No alcohol, caffeine

Confucianism

Founder: Confucius; Ethnic, philosophy; Hearth: China; Five relationships: ruler-subject, parent-child, husband-wife, elder-younger, friend-friend

Daoism

Founder: Laozi; Ethnic; Hearth: China; Yin/Yang balance

Bahá'í

Founder: Bahá'u'lláh; Universalizing; Hearth: Persia (Iran); Belief: Unity of humanity and religions

Shintoism

Ethnic, animistic; Hearth: Japan; Focus on nature spirits, shrines