AP Human Geo

acculturation

assimilation to another culture, ususally the dominant one

multiculturalism

the coexistance of diverse cultural groups in society

assimilation

when the minority group adopts traits from the dominant culture, often losing their original identity.

syncretism

blending of different cultural traits to make new ones

diaspora

the scattering of people from their homeland to other parts of the world.

contagious diffusion

the rapid widespread of cultural traits or ideas through person to person contact

hierarchical

the spread of ideas and cultural traits from larger more influential places to smaller less influential places.

relocation diffusion

the spread of cultural traits through migration

pidgin language

a simplified language developed out of necessity for communication between groups

creole language

a fully developed language that emerges from the colonizers and the indigenous people

lingua franca

an already established language adopted for communication between people who speak different language

centripetal force

something that unifies a country, strengthening its cohesion

centrifugal force

something that divides a country, weakening its unity and stability

sequent occupance

the concept that cultures leave lasting imprints on a landscape over time

language family

a collection of languages that share a common ancestor in their history

cultural landscape

the visible imprint of human activity in environment showing how people adapt to their surroundings

built environment

the man-made part of cultural landscape

sociofacts

the social structures and organizations that organize a culture’s social behavior

mentifacts

the core beliefs and values that define a culture

cultural relativism

not judging a persons values and practices based on their own culture

cultural hearth

a region where new ideas and culture originate, then spreads to other areas

cultural trait

a single element of a culture, spread and passed down

isogloss

a geographical boundary separating regions where different language features are used

dialect

a regional or social variation of a language distinguished by differences in vocab, reflecting the unique cultural identity

pop culture

widespread cultural traits adopted by urban populations, spreading rapidly

folk culture

the traditional practices, often rural groups, passed down through generations via relocation diffusion