acculturation
An ethnic/immigrant group moves to a new area and adopts the values and practices of the receiving group, while still maintaining elements of their own culture
artifact
any object, tool, or structure made by humans that provides insight into past or present cultures, societies, and behaviors
assimilation
the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms, values, and practices of a dominant or host society, often leading to the loss or modification of their own cultural identity
built environment
the human made infrastructure, including buildings, roads, bridges, and other structures, that shapes and defines the physical landscape of a place
creole
language that has developed from a mixture of different languages, often as a result of historical colonization or cultural blending, and is used as a primary means of communication
cultural convergence
The process in which cultures become similar to each other and share more cultural traits, ideas and beliefs as a result of globalization; ex. jeans are worn around the world instead of traditional clothing
cultural landscape
the visible human imprint on the environment, including buildings, agricultural patterns, and other elements that reflect the culture and societal values of a particular area
cultural relativism
the principle that a culture should be understood and judged within the context of its own values, norms, and beliefs, rather than being compared to those of another culture
culture
the shared beliefs, values, norms, language, symbols, and practices that characterize a particular group or society and shape its way of life
culture trait
a specific aspect, behavior, or characteristic of a culture, such as language, clothing styles, food preferences, or religious rituals, that distinguishes it from others
dialect
Regional variations of a language that are large enough to be noticed but small enough to be understood by speakers of the same overarching language
ethnic neighborhood
a residential area where a specific ethnic or cultural group predominantly resides
ethnocentrism
the belief or attitude that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to others
expansion diffusion
the spread of a cultural trait or innovation outward from its source area to new areas, either through direct contact or through various forms of communication and exchange
gendered space
physical or social environments that are associated with specific genders, often reflecting societal norms, expectations, and divisions of labor based on gender roles and identities
glocalization
adapting global processes and products to local contexts, blending global and local influences to create hybrid cultural practices within specific regions or communities
hierarchical diffusion
Diffusion that begins from the most interconnected places or from centers of wealth and influence; ex. Taylor Swift wears a specific dress, sparking others to begin wearing it too
isogloss
a geographic boundary line marking the area where a particular linguistic feature, such as pronunciation or vocabulary usage, differs from neighboring areas
language branch
Languages in a family that share a common origin and were separated from other branches thousands of years ago
language family
The largest grouping of related languages; each language in the family shares a common ancestral language with each other
lingua franca
a common language used for communication between people who speak different native languages, often serving as a bridge for trade, diplomacy, or cultural exchange
mentifact
The central, enduring elements of a cluture that reflect its shared ideas, values, knowledge and beliefs that are the slowest to change.
multiculturalism
The coexistence of many cultures in one society with the idea of all cultures being valued
orthography
A set of conventions for writing a language, such as spelling and grammar (ex. capitalizing the first letter of a sentence)
pidgin
A simplified mixture of two languages with fewer grammar rules and a smaller vocabuluary than either language
pilgrimage
A religious journey taken by someone to a sacred place of their religion
placelessness
the loss of unique or distinctive characteristics in a location, often due to the proliferation of standardized architecture and cultural elements that diminish the sense of local identity
relocation diffusion
Diffusion by people who migrate and carry their cultural traits with them
sequent occupance
the successive groups or cultures that have inhabited and left their mark on a particular geographic location over time, contributing to its cultural landscape
sociofact
A part of culture that describes the social structures and systems within a culture that influence behavior such as families, governments, and educational systems.
stimulus diffusion
the spread of an underlying idea or concept, often resulting in the adaptation and modification of the original idea to fit different cultural contexts (ex. India adopted the US culture of fast food, but modified it to be vegetarian friendly)
syncretism
The blending of two distinctive cultural traits into a new hybrid trait (ex. nachos are the result of a combination of Mexican and Tejano food)
toponym
the name of a place, reflecting its cultural, historical, or physical characteristics