Glossary
Cultural Determinism
The theory that human behavior and societal norms are primarily shaped by cultural factors, rather than by the physical environment.
Example:
The widespread practice of eating with chopsticks in East Asian countries, regardless of local resources, illustrates cultural determinism.
Cultural Diffusion
The spread of cultural elements, such as ideas, practices, innovations, or products, from their place of origin to other areas.
Example:
The global popularity of sushi, originating in Japan and now found in restaurants worldwide, is a prime example of cultural diffusion.
Culture Region
An area on Earth's surface where a population shares distinct and relatively homogeneous cultural characteristics, such as language, religion, or customs.
Example:
The American South, with its distinct culinary traditions, musical genres, and historical narratives, can be considered a culture region.
Dominant Cultures
Cultures that exert significant influence and often set trends in popular culture, media, and global practices, often leading to the spread of their norms.
Example:
Hollywood films and American pop music often represent dominant cultures in the global entertainment industry, influencing trends worldwide.
Endangered Languages
Languages that are at risk of falling out of use as their speakers die out or shift to speaking other languages, often due to globalization or assimilation pressures.
Example:
Many small tribal languages in the Amazon rainforest are considered endangered languages as younger generations increasingly adopt Portuguese or Spanish.
Environmental Determinism
A discredited theory suggesting that the physical environment, particularly climate, directly and solely controls human behavior, culture, and societal development.
Example:
An outdated belief that people living in tropical climates are inherently less industrious due to the heat is an example of environmental determinism.
Extinct Languages
Languages that no longer have any native speakers and are no longer in everyday use, though they may be studied for historical or academic purposes.
Example:
Latin, once the language of the Roman Empire, is now an extinct language primarily studied by scholars and used in specific contexts like scientific nomenclature.
Globalization
The increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of countries and cultures worldwide through the exchange of goods, information, and ideas.
Example:
The widespread availability of international brands and the instant sharing of news across continents are facets of globalization.
Indigenous Languages
Languages native to a particular region or country, often spoken by the original inhabitants, which may be distinct from the languages of later settlers or colonizers.
Example:
Quechua, spoken by millions in the Andes region of South America, is an important indigenous language that reflects the heritage of the Inca civilization.
Placelessness
The phenomenon where places lose their unique characteristics and become indistinguishable from one another, often due to the spread of popular culture and globalization.
Example:
The proliferation of identical fast-food chains and big-box stores along highways contributes to a feeling of placelessness across different towns.
Possibilism
A more balanced theory asserting that the environment sets certain limitations or opportunities for human actions, but humans have the ability to choose and adapt within those limits using technology and cultural practices.
Example:
Despite living in a desert, ancient civilizations developed sophisticated irrigation systems, demonstrating possibilism by overcoming environmental constraints.
Sense of Place
The emotional connection and personal meaning an individual or group associates with a particular location, extending beyond its physical attributes.
Example:
For many, their childhood home evokes a strong sense of place, filled with memories and a feeling of belonging.