AP Human Geography Unit 3

traditional (folk) Culture

made up of long-established behaviors, beliefs and practices passed down from generation to generation.

Language Branch

Collection of languages within a language family that share a common origin and separated from other branches in the same family several thousand years ago.

pidgin language

A form of speech that adopts a simplified grammar and limited vocabulary of a lingua franca, used for communications among speakers of two different languages.

popular culture

widespread behaviors, beliefs and practices of ordinary people in a society at any given point in time which tend to change quickly.

dialect

variation of a standard language specific to a general area distinguished by differences in rapidity of speech, vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.

language family

A collection of languages related to each other through a common ancestor from a particular hearth, or region of origin.

cultural relativism

the evaluation of a culture by its own standards.

cultural trait

A shared object or cultural practice

lingua franca

A language mutually understood and commonly used in trade by people who have different native languages

indigenous

native

cultural norm

a shared standard or pattern that guides the behavior of a large group of people.

gendered spaces

a space designed and deliberately incorporated into the landscape to accommodate gender roles

Language Group

A collection of languages within a branch that share a common ancestor in the relatively recent past and have high degree of overlap with vocabulary and grammar.

standard language

The form of a language used for official government business, education, and mass communications.

nativism

the policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.

centripetal force

a force that unites people and countries

isolate

a language that is unrelated to any other known language

culture

beliefs, values, practices, behaviors and technologies shared by a society and passed down from generation to generation.

taboo

A restriction on behavior imposed by social custom.

isogloss

A boundary that separates regions in which different language usages predominate.

logogram

A symbol that represents a word rather than a sound

creolized language

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

centrifugal force

a force that divides people and countries

official language

The language adopted for use by the government for the conduct of business and publication of documents.

traditional architecture

established building styles of different cultures, religions, and places.

postmodern architecture

A building style that emerged as a reaction to "modern" designs, and values diversity in design

sociofacts

structure or organization of culture that influences social behavior (families, governments, education or religious institutions)

placemaking

A community driven process in which people collaborate to create a place where they can live, work, play and learn.

branch

A large and fundamental division within a religion

ethnic religion

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

transculturation

two-way exchange of culture traits between societies in close contact

Caste System

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life

Fundamentalism

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

Ethnocentrism

evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture.

adherent

a person who is loyal to a belief, religion or organization

Acculturation

the process by which people within one culture adopt some of the traits of another while still retaining their own culture.

Autonomous religion

A religion that does not have a central authority but shares ideas and cooperates informally.

Denomination

A division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body.

Assimilation

the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another

Artifacts

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced

Neolocalism

A renewed interest in sustaining and promoting the uniqueness of a place

Theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders

Ethnic island (enclave/neighborhood)

an area typically situated apart from a more homogeneous region (e.g., metropolitan city) and comprised of a local culture that may practice their own culture.

Hierarchical religion

A religion in which a central authority exercises a high degree of control.

sect

A relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination.

Universalizing Religion

A religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location.

sense of place

subjective feelings and memories people associate with a geographic location.

sequent occupance

the notion that successive societies leave their cultural imprints on a place, each contributing to the cumulative cultural landscape

syncretism

process of innovation combining different cultural features into something new (architecture, religion)

Secularism

An indifference to religion and a belief that religion should be excluded from civic affairs and public education.

mentifact

A central, enduring elements of a culture expressing its values and beliefs, including language, religion, folklore, and etc.

cultural landscape

the natural landscape as modified by human activities and reflecting their cultural beliefs and values.

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

cultural hearth

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

multiculturalism

situation in which different cultures live together with assimilating