UNIT 3 APHG
Chapter 5: Language
Creole language(s): A stable, fully developed natural language that has evolved from a mixture of different languages, typically formed in colonial settings where speakers of different languages needed to communicate.
Dialect: A regional or social variety of a language characterized by distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Isogloss: A geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs; it often marks the limits of a dialect or language variation.
Isolated language: A language that has no known relationship with other languages; it is not part of any language family (e.g., Basque).
Language: A system of communication used by a particular community or country, consisting of written and spoken words and rules for combining them.
Language family: A group of languages related through descent from a common ancestor, called the proto-language of that family (e.g., Indo-European).
Lingua franca: A language that is used as a common means of communication between speakers of different native languages, often used in trade or diplomacy.
Logogram: A written character that represents a word or phrase (e.g., Chinese characters).
Official language: The language designated by law to be used in governmental affairs and legal documents within a country or region.
Pidgin language: A simplified form of speech that develops as a means of communication between speakers of different languages; it often has limited vocabulary and grammar.
Chapter 6: Religion
Agnosticism: The belief that the existence of God or the divine is unknown or unknowable; agnostics neither affirm nor deny the existence of God.
Animism: The belief that objects, places, and creatures possess spiritual essence; it is often associated with indigenous religions.
Atheism: The absence of belief in the existence of deities; atheists do not believe in any gods or religious doctrines.
Branch (of religion): A large and fundamental division within a religion (e.g., Christianity has branches such as Catholicism and Protestantism).
Denomination: A recognized autonomous branch of the Christian church or other religious group.
Ethnic religion: A religion associated with a particular ethnic group, often closely tied to cultural identity (e.g., Judaism).
Fundamentalism: A strict adherence to specific theological doctrines typically in reaction against modernist theology; it often emphasizes literal interpretation of sacred texts.
Ghettos (also ch 7): Segregated neighborhoods where members of a minority group live, often due to social, legal, or economic pressure.
Missionary: An individual who is sent on a mission to promote their religion in foreign countries or among different communities.
Monotheism: The belief in a single deity or god (e.g., Christianity, Islam).
Pilgrimage: A journey undertaken by believers to a sacred site for religious purposes (e.g., Hajj in Islam).
Polytheism: The belief in multiple deities or gods (e.g., Hinduism).
Sect: A subgroup within a larger religious tradition, often with distinct beliefs or practices (e.g., the Shia sect within Islam).
Syncretic: The combining of different beliefs and practices from various religions into one cohesive system.
Universalizing religion: A religion that seeks to spread its beliefs universally and attract followers from all over the world (e.g., Christianity, Islam).
Chapter 4: Local & Global Culture
Custom: A traditional practice or habitual way of behaving that is specific to a particular society or culture.
Ecumene: The inhabited land where people live; it refers to areas suitable for human habitation.
Folk/local/indigenous culture: Cultural practices and traditions that are specific to a particular community or group, often passed down through generations.
Habit: A repetitive act performed by an individual; habits can be personal behaviors rather than cultural practices.
Popular/global culture: Cultural elements that are widely disseminated and consumed across different societies, often influenced by mass media and globalization.
Taboo: A social or cultural prohibition against certain practices, behaviors, or discussions considered unacceptable.
Chapter 7: Ethnicities
Acculturation: The process through which individuals adopt the cultural traits or social patterns of another group while retaining their original culture.
Apartheid: A policy or system of segregation based on race that was enforced in South Africa until the early 1990s.
Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture and norms of another group, often losing their original identity in the process.
Balkanization: The fragmentation of a region into smaller units based on ethnic or cultural divisions, often leading to conflict.
Blockbusting: A practice where real estate agents induce panic selling in white neighborhoods by suggesting that racial minorities will soon move into the area; this leads to property value declines and racial segregation.
Ethnic cleansing: The systematic removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a particular area to create a homogenous population.
Ethnic enclave/neighborhood: A geographic area where individuals from similar ethnic backgrounds live together, maintaining their cultural identity.
Ethnicity: A shared cultural heritage based on common ancestry, language, history, and sometimes religion; it distinguishes groups within larger societies.
Genocide: The deliberate and systematic destruction of an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group.
Ghetto (also ch 6): Segregated neighborhoods where members of a minority group live due to social, legal, or economic pressures.
Nationalism: An ideological movement characterized by the promotion of the interests and culture of one's nation over others; it often involves pride in one's national identity.
Nationality: The legal relationship between an individual and a state; it typically denotes membership in a nation and implies certain rights and obligations.
Race: A social construct used to categorize people based on physical characteristics such as skin color, facial features, etc.; it has no biological basis but significant social implications.
Racism: Prejudice or discrimination against individuals based on their race; it involves beliefs that one race is superior to another.