Geography - Unit 3 Culture

Culture

The body of material possessions, customary beliefs, and social norms that together constitute the distinct tradition of a group of people

Popular(Pop) Culture

Found in large, heterogeneous(diverse) societies that share certain customs despite differences in other personal characteristics

Folk Culture

Traditional practiced primarily by small homogeneous(similar people) groups living relative isolation from other groups

Material Culture

The objects or belongings of a group of people; the tangible stuff

Non Material Culture

The ideas, attitude, and beliefs of a society; the intangible actions or thoughts

Language

A system of communication through speech, movement, sounds, or symbols that a group of people understand to have the same meaning

Official Language

The language used by the government for laws, reports, and public objects

Lingua Franca

A language of international communication, such as English

Language Family

A collection of languages related through a common ancestral language that existed long before recorded history

Endangered Language

A language that children are no longer learning, and it's remaining speakers use it less frequently

Extinct Language

A language that was once used by people in daily activities but is no longer in use

African American English (AAE)

A dialect of English, primarily used by Black Americans

Code Switching

The process of shifting from one linguistic code to another depending on the social context or conversation setting

Disability

Any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them

Ableism

Discrimination, prejudice, or social assumptions that favor able-bodied people

Disabilities can be

very diverse (like sensory, intellectual, chronic, etc)

Disability is

part of cultural identity that builds community

Universalizing Religions

A religion that attempts to be global, to appeal to all people, wherever they may live in the world, not just to those of one culture or location Ex. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism

Ethnic Religions

Religions that are strongly tied to a specific ethnic group, where membership is often determined by birth and lineage rather than conversion Ex. Judaism and Hinduism

Religious Identity

How a person, or a group of people, thinks of themselves as belonging to and representing the values of a particular religion and/or religious sect

Religious Stereotypes

Oversimplified and often negative beliefs about individuals based on their religious affiliation, which can lead to prejudice and discrimination

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's culture is superior to others, leading to the tendency to judge other cultures based on one's own norms and values

First Language

A person's native language (mother-tongue or home language)

Dialect

A regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from other regional varieties

Accent

The way in which people in a particular area, country, or social group pronounce words

Atheism

The belief that God does not exist

Agnosticism

The belief that nothing can be known about whether God exists or not

Religion

Can be explained as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe or a commitment or devotion to a god(s) or a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs

Gender

The socially-constructed set of ways that people express themselves along the continuum of masculinity, femininity, both, or neither; it's distinct from sex

Sex

A designation(label) at birth decided by biological features (chromosomes and reproduction organs)

Gender Stereotypes

Fixed, oversimplified ideas about traits, behaviors, and roles for men, women, and other identities

Ethnic Heritage

A shared cultural identity and ancestry passed down through generations that create a sense of belonging

Ethnicity

Identity with a group of people who share the cultural traditions of a particular homeland

Race

Identity with a group of people who are perceived to share a physical trait

Nationality

Identity with a group of people who share legal attachment to a particular country

Social Construction

An idea/meaning that is widely accepted as natural by society but may not represent a reality shared by those outside the society

Racism

The belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial difference produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

Racist

A person who displays discrimination or feels prejudice against people of particular races

Sense of Belonging

The feeling of being included or valued in a group (human need)

Preserving Languages

The effort to protect, sustain, and revitalize languages at risk of extinction to maintain cultural identity, unique worldviews, histories, and traditions

Sign Languages

Languages with their own grammar and vocabulary, though they are not universal, there are over 300 different types

Language impacts culture by

shaping identity and by reflecting and reinforcing cultural values and priorities through its vocabulary, grammar, and usage