AP Human Geography: Unit 3 Chapter 8 - Vocabulary (Spatial Patterns of Language and Religion)

Creole (Creolization)

the blending of two or more languages that may not include the features of either original language

Lingua Franca

common language used among speakers of different languages

Colonialism

the practice of claiming and dominating overseas territories

Cultural Convergence

the process by which cultures become more similar through interaction

Cultural Divergence

the process by which cultures become less similar due to conflicting beliefs or other barriers

Language Family

a group of languages that share a common ancestral language from a particular hearth, or region of origin

Cultural Hearth

an area where cultural traits develop and from which cultural traits diffuse

Toponym

a place name

Universalizing Religion

a religion that tries to appeal to all humans and is open to membership by everyone

Syncretism

process of innovation combining different cultural features into something new

Multiculturalism

a situation in which different cultures live together without assimilating

Ethnic Religion

a religion that is closely tied with a particular ethnic group often living in a particular place

Pidgin

a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between speakers of different native language

Urbanization

urban growth and development