APHUG 03 Vocab

acculturation

process by which one cultural group undergoes a major modification by adopting many of the characteristics of another

assimilation

process of consistent integration whereby members of an ethno-cultural group are 'absorbed' into an established, generally larger community

cultural landscape

visible imprint of human activity on the landscape

cultural realm

geographical region where traits maintain homogeneity

culture

comprised of shared practices, technologies, attitudes, and behaviors transmitted by a society

cultural traits

individual elements of culture such as food preferences, architecture, and land use

diffusion types

(Expansion) The spread of one feature from one place to another in a snowballing process; (Hierarchical) The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places; (Contagious) The rapid widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population; (Stimulus) The spread of an underlying principle when the characteristic fails to diffuse; (Relocation) The spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another

syncretism

fusion of old and new

ethnocentrism

evaluation of others' cultures through the limited lens of one's own culture

material culture

objects produced by human beings, providing information about the past

nonmaterial culture

cultural adjustments to material conditions, including customs, beliefs, and patterns of communication

built environment

man-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity

folk culture

traditionally practiced by a small, homogeneous, rural group living in relative isolation

folk food

particular regional food choices in traditional societies

folk house

house identified by physical and interior characteristics from different ethnicities or traits

folk songs

belonging to folk music, telling stories or conveying information about daily activities

folklore

traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices transmitted orally

popular culture

totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, and phenomena deemed preferred within a culture

creole

language resulting from the mixing of a colonizer's language with the indigenous language

dialect

regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation

Indo-European languages

family of languages spoken throughout Europe and parts of Asia by 1000 BC

isogloss

boundary separating regions with different language usages

language

system of communication through speech understood by a group of people

language group

collection of languages within a branch that share a common origin in the relatively recent past and display relatively few differences in grammar and vocabulary

language family

collection of languages related through a common ancestor long before recorded history

language subfamily

divisions within a language family with more definite commonalities and recent origin

lingua franca

language mutually understood and commonly used in trade by people with different native languages

monolingual/multilingual

society's or country's use of only one language of communication for all purposes

pidgin

form of speech adopting simplified grammar and limited vocabulary of a lingua franca for communication among speakers of different languages

animism

belief that inanimate objects like plants and stones have a spirit

Buddhism

founded in 6th century BCE, belief that enlightenment can be attained by anyone

pilgrimage

voluntary travel by an adherent to a sacred site to pay respects or participate in a ritual

Christianity

based on teachings of Jesus, believed to be the son of God

Eastern Orthodox Church/Roman Catholic Church

major branches of Christianity, with the former centered in Rome and the latter in Constantinople

Protestant

1 of 3 major branches of Christianity, following widespread societal changes in Europe starting in 1300s CE, adherents to RCC questioned role of religion, opening doors to Protestant Reformation wherein Martin Luther, and others challenged the teachings of RCC

Confucianism

philosophy of ethics, education, and public service based on writings of Confucius and traditionally thought of as one of the core elements of Chinese culture

ethnic religion

religion that is particular to one, culturally distinct, group of people

fundamentalism

literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect)

Feng Shui

Chinese art and science of placement and orientation of tombs, dwellings, buildings, and cities. Structures and objects are positioned in an effort to channel flows of sheng-chi in favorable ways

hajj

Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad

Hinduism

one of the oldest religions, over 4000 years, originating in Indus River Valley in Pakistan. Doesn't have single founder, single theology, or agreement on its origins

caste system

strict social segregation of people-specifically in India's Hindu society-on the basis of ancestry and occupation

interfaith boundaries

boundaries between the world's major faiths

Islam

younger religion based on teachings of Muhammad, born in Mecca in 571 CE. He was believed to have received truth directly from Allah (Arabic word for God) in a series of revelations during which Muhammad spoke verses of the Koran (also called Quran)

Jainism

a religion founded in India in the 6th century BC, whose members believe that everything in the universe has a soul and therefore should not be harmed

Judaism

said to be one of the first monotheistic faiths, religion of the ancient Hebrews with its roots in teachings of Abraham, credited with uniting his people to worship one god. Abraham and God have a covenant where Jews only worship God, and God protects the Jews. Root of other religions

diaspora

forceful or voluntary dispersal of a people from their homeland to a new place

Zionism

movement to unite Jews of the diaspora and to establish a national homeland for them in the promised land

monotheism

belief system in which one supreme being is revered as creator and arbiter of all that exists in the universe

polytheism

belief system in which multiple deities are revered as creators and arbiters of all that exists in the universe

minarets

tower attached to a Muslim mosque from which comes the call to prayer

Sharia Law

system of Islamic law, based on varying interpretations of the Qu'ran (Islamic holy book)

Muslim

person who practices Islam

proselytic religion

is to try to convert another person to your religion

reincarnation

the process of the soul lives on after death and returns to life in a new body

religion

a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities

religious architectural styles

these are the distinct styles of architecture created by the religions

religious culture hearth

origin of a world religion - diffuses outward

sacred space

place/space people infuse with religious meaning

secularism

idea that ethical and moral standards should be formulated and adhered to for life on Earth, not to accommodate the prescriptions of a deity and promises of a comfortable afterlife

shamanism

community faith in traditional societies in which people follow their shaman-a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary. Strong shaman might attract regional following, but mostly remain local

Shintoism

religion in Japan, related to Buddhism. Focuses particularly on nature and ancestor worship

Sikhism

Indian religion founded in the Punjab in the late 15th century

Sunni

adherents to the largest branch of Islam, called orthodox/traditionalist. Believe in effectiveness of family and community to solve life's problems

Shia

adherents of 1 of 2 main divisions of Islam. Represent Persian/Iranian variation of Islam, believe in the infallibility and divine right to authority of the Imams, descendants of Ali

Taoism

founded by Lao-Tsu on his book, 'Book of the Way', focused on proper form of political rule and oneness of humanity and nature

theocracy

government system in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler or priests claiming a commission from God to rule

universalizing

belief system that there's one true religion that is universal in scope

Zoroastrianism

one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions founded by Zoroaster in ancient Iran approximately 3500 years ago

barrio

is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood

cultural shatterbelt

a politically unstable region where differing cultural elements come into contact and conflict

ethnic cleansing

The systematic killing or extermination of an entire people of nation

ethnic conflict

is a war between ethnic groups often as a result of ethnic nationalism. They are of interest because of the apparent prevalence since the Cold War and because they frequently result in war crimes such as genocide

ethnic enclave

is a neighborhood, district, or suburb which retains some cultural distinction from a larger, surrounding area

ethnic homeland

is the concept of the territory to which an ethnic group holds a long history and a deep cultural association with (the country in which a particular national identity began)

ethnic landscape

is an expression of people's idea and work

ethnic neighborhood

neighborhood typically situation in a large metro city and constructed or comprised of a local culture in which a local culture can practice it's constructed of comprised of a local culture in which a local culture can practice its customs. ethnicity

identity

with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions

race

category of humans based on skin color and other physical characteristics

gender

Social differences between men and women (not anatomical)

dowry death

dowry deaths are the deaths of young women who are murdered or driven to suicide by continuous harassment and torture by husbands and in-laws in an effort to extort an increased dowry

enfranchisement

freedom from political subjugation or servitude

infanticide

the intentional killing of children under 12 months, usually because of their gender

Material Culture

food, flags, fashion, festival, holidays, music, games, performance, dances, arts and crafts, literature, language

Non-Material Culture

Communication styles and rules, body languages, eye contact, personal space, handling emotion, beauty, cleanliness, manners, gender roles, elders, animals, sin, death, work, authority, religion, marriage, children