Acculturation The process of adopting cultural traits from another society while still retaining one’s original cultural identity. Adherents People who follow, support, or are devoted to a particular religion, belief system, or ideology. Agnostic Someone who holds that the existence of a deity or ultimate reality is unknown or unknowable. Apartheid Institutionalized system of racial segregation and discrimination, most famously in South Africa (1948‑1994). Assimilation The gradual absorption of a minority group into the dominant culture, often leading to loss of distinct identity. Atheism The lack of belief in any gods or deities. Balkanization Fragmentation of a region or country into smaller, often hostile, political units. Bigot A person who is intolerant toward those who differ in race, religion, politics, etc. Blockbusting Real‑estate tactic that provokes panic selling by suggesting minorities are moving into a neighborhood. Branch (of a religion) A distinct subdivision within a larger faith (e.g., Sunni vs. Shia Islam). Colonialism Policy of acquiring political control over another territory, exploiting it economically, and imposing cultural influence. Caste system Hereditary social hierarchy that assigns status and occupation at birth (e.g., in India). Creole A fully developed language that arose from mixing several parent languages and now has native speakers. Cultural convergence Tendency for different cultures to become more alike through shared technology, media, and ideas. Cultural divergence Process by which cultures become more distinct from one another, often due to isolation or deliberate preservation. Dialect A regional or social variety of a language, differing in pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary. Ebonics African‑American Vernacular English (AAVE), a distinct dialect of English spoken by many Black Americans. Ethnic cleansing Forced removal or extermination of an ethnic or religious group from a particular area. Ethnic separatism Movement seeking political autonomy or independence for a specific ethnic group. Ethnic religions Faiths rooted in particular ethnic groups (e.g., Hinduism, Shinto, Yoruba) rather than universal proselytizing. Genocide Systematic, intentional destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Ghetto Densely populated, often segregated urban area, historically linked to a specific minority. Glocalization Adapting a global product or idea to fit local cultures and preferences. Hierarchical religion A faith organization with a clear top‑down authority structure (e.g., the Catholic Church). Ideogram (logogram) A written symbol that directly represents a concept or idea (e.g., Chinese characters). Imperialism Extending a nation’s power through colonization, military force, or economic domination. Islam Monotheistic Abrahamic religion founded on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an. Isogloss Geographic boundary that separates different linguistic features (pronunciation, word choice, etc.). Karma Moral law of cause and effect in Hindu‑Buddhist traditions; actions influence future outcomes. Language branch Subdivision of a language family containing closely related languages (e.g., Romance branch). Language family Group of languages sharing a common ancestral language (e.g., Indo‑European, Sino‑Tibetan). Lingua franca A language used as a common means of communication between speakers of different native tongues. Literary tradition Body of written works, styles, and conventions that develop within a particular culture or period. Monotheism Belief in a single, all‑powerful deity. Multiculturalism Societal approach encouraging coexistence and respect for diverse cultural groups. Nationalism Political ideology emphasizing loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation, often seeking self‑determination. Nationality Legal relationship between an individual and a state (citizenship). Nativist Stance favoring the interests of native‑born inhabitants over immigrants; often opposes immigration. Official language Language granted legal status for use in government, courts, and official documents. Pilgrimage Journey to a sacred place or shrine undertaken for religious or spiritual reasons. Polytheism Belief in or worship of multiple deities. Romance languages Language family that evolved from Latin (e.g., Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian). Spanglish Hybrid blend of Spanish and English spoken in bilingual communities, especially in the U.S. Syncretism Merging of different religious, cultural, or philosophical traditions into a new, combined system. Syncretic religion Faith that incorporates elements from multiple religions (e.g., Vodou, Santería). Universal religion Religion that seeks to appeal to all humanity, often with a missionary impulse (e.g., Christianity, Islam).
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