Creolization/Creolized Language
A pidgin language that develops into a new combined language with native speakers. Frequently developed through settings of colonization or slavery
Lingua Franca
A common language used by speakers of two different languages for communication. Usually for business, trade, commerce or popular culture.
Imperialism
The dominance of one country through diplomacy or force.
Colonialism
When a powerful country establishes settlements in a less powerful country for economic and/or political gain.
Pidgin Language
An extremely simplified, limited, non-native language used by two people that speak two different languages
Dialect
Variations in accent, grammar, usage and spelling and develop out of geographic distance or isolation
Cultural Convergence
The process of two or more cultures coming into contact with each other and adopt each other’s traits to become more alike
Cultural Divergence
Cultures become less alike due to both cultural and physical barriers.
Language Family
Largest group of related languages which are connected through a common, ancient ancestry and trace back to a common hearth
Language Branch
Collection of languages that share a common origin from thousands of years ago. They were separated from other languages in their family and are now distinctive although related
Universalizing Religions
Widely diffused from the hearth through expansion and relocation diffusion
Not confined to a specific location
Missionary-attempt to convert people to join
Ethnic Religions
Smaller diffusion and overall distribution from hearth. Restricted to relocation.
tied to a specific location or ethnic group
Do not recruit adherents
Time Space Convergence
The shrinking of the world due to improvements in communication and transportation technologies
Assimilation
When a minority group adopts the prominent culture
Acculturation
When one culture starts to change to look like another culture
Indigenous Communities
Communities that live within or are attached to, geographically distinct traditional habitats or ancestral territories, and who identify themselves as being part of a distinct cultural group
Indo-European Languages
The largest language family with about 3.2 billion speakers distributed across the world
Race
The physical characteristics of a common genetic heritage
Multiculturalism
When there is a cultural diversity in a country
Syncretism
The blending together of two or more cultural influences
Toponyms
Place-names that can uncover your historical information about a place and its origins