Unit 3 AP Human Geography Vocab

Culture

The shared beliefs, practices, behaviors, and material objects that define a group of people or society.

Non-Material Culture

Intangible aspects of culture, such as beliefs, values, norms, language, and religion.

Material Culture

Physical objects and artifacts created by a society, including tools, buildings, clothing, and art.

Folk/Local Culture

Culture practiced by small, homogenous groups often in rural areas, emphasizing tradition and community.

Popular Culture

Culture found in large, heterogeneous societies, characterized by rapid changes and widespread diffusion.

Norms

Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members.

Taboos

Strong prohibitions or restrictions on behaviors deemed unacceptable or offensive by a society.

Cultural Appropriation

The adoption of elements of one culture by members of another, often without understanding or respect.

Cultural Convergence

The process where cultures become more similar due to interactions, often through globalization.

Commodification

The process of turning cultural items or traditions into products for sale or profit.

Acculturation

The process by which individuals or groups adopt aspects of another culture while retaining their own distinct cultural identity.

Assimilation

The process by which individuals or groups fully adopt the culture of another group, losing their original identity.

Syncretism

The blending of elements from different cultures or religions to create something new.

Language Family

A group of related languages that have a common ancestral language (e.g., Indo-European).

Language Branch

A subdivision of a language family that shares a more recent common ancestor (e.g., Germanic within Indo-European).

National Language

The language associated with a country’s national identity, often used in government and education.

Standardized Language

A form of language recognized as the norm, often used in formal communication.

Dialect

Regional variations in language, characterized by differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.

Isogloss

A boundary that separates regions where different linguistic features are used.

Pidgin

A simplified form of language used for communication between people who do not share a common language.

Creole

A stable, natural language that has developed from a mixture of different languages.

Lingua Franca

A common language used for communication between speakers of different native languages.

Secular

Non-religious; not associated with any religious beliefs or practices.

Monotheistic

Belief in one deity (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Judaism).

Polytheistic

Belief in multiple deities (e.g., Hinduism, Ancient Greek religion).

Animistic

The belief that non-human entities (plants, animals, objects) possess spirits.

Universalizing Religion

Religions that seek to convert people globally (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Buddhism).

Ethnic Religion

Religions closely tied to a specific ethnic group or region, not actively seeking converts (e.g., Hinduism, Judaism).

Christianity

A monotheistic religion based on beliefs in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with churches as places of worship.

Islam

A monotheistic religion that believes in Allah and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, with mosques as places of worship.

Judaism

A monotheistic religion based on the covenant with Abraham, with synagogues as places of worship.

Buddhism

A religion focusing on achieving enlightenment through the Eightfold Path, with temples or stupas as places of worship.

Hinduism

A religion based on karma, dharma, and reincarnation, with temples as places of worship.

Race

A socially constructed category based on perceived physical differences.

Ethnicity

A shared cultural heritage or identity often tied to language, religion, or ancestry.

Nationality

A legal relationship and allegiance to a specific country.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes associated with being male, female, or non-binary.