Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes (copy)

Culture

The shared experience, traits, and activities of a group of people who have a common heritage.

Cultural synthesis (syncretism)

The blending together of two or more cultural influences.

Folk music

Music that is original to a specific culture, often incorporating instruments and orchestration unique to that region.

Universalizing religions

Religions that accept followers from all ethnicities worldwide.

Ethnic religions

Religions confined to members of a specific culture group.

Caste System in India

Social stratification within Hindu society that divides people into distinct social classes.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five basic acts of worship that are considered the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice.

Cultural relativism

The idea that an individual’s beliefs and activities can only be understood in the context of their own culture.

Acculturation

The process of adapting to a new culture while still keeping some of one’s original culture.

Assimilation

A complete change in the identity of a minority culture group as it becomes part of the majority culture.

Environmental determinism

The ideology that a culture’s traits are defined by the physical geography of its native hearth or culture region.

Niger-Congo

A major language family spoken by approximately 435 million people, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.

Indo-European

The largest language family, represented by approximately 2.9 billion speakers across various regions.

Cultural globalization

The global interconnectedness that decreases the distinctness of local cultures.

Neo-Nazism

A form of violent racism that promotes xenophobia against non-whites and immigrants.

Folklore

Collected stories, spoken-word histories, and writings specific to a culture that tell societal histories and moral tales.

Modern architecture

Architecture developed during the 20th century that expresses geometric, ordered forms utilizing modern materials.

Contemporary architecture

Current architectural style characterized by more organic forms and elements, often incorporating sustainability.

Islamic architecture

Architecture that often features central domes and minarets, built with the orientation towards Mecca.

Pidgin languages

Simplified forms of language that use key vocabulary words and limited grammar, often serving as bridge languages.