1828250
| Question | Answer |
| Identity | Defined by geographer Gillian Rose as “how we make sense of ourselves;” how people see themselves at different scales |
| Identifying Against | Constructing an identity by first defining the “other” and then defining ourselves as “not the other.” |
| Intersectionality | The complex connections and relationships between various social categories such as race, class, gender, and sexuality |
| Gender | Social differences between men and women, rather than the anatomical, biological differences between the sexes. Notions of gender differences—that is, what is considered “feminine” or “masculine”—vary greatly over time and space |
| Sex/Gender/Sexuality Matrix | The expectation that a person is only one of two biological sexes (male or female); that the proper gender characteristics (masculinity or femininity) will be exhibited by that body and that the normative sexuality is heterosexuality. |
| Race | A categorization of humans based on skin colour and other physical characteristics. Racial categories are social and political constructions because they are based on ideas that some biological differences (especially skin colour) are more important than others (e.g., height), even though the latter might have more significance in terms of human activity. With its roots in 16th century England, the term is closely associated with European colonialism because of the impact of that development on global understandings of racial differences. |
| Racism | Frequently referred to as a system or attitude toward visible differences in individuals, racism is an ideology of difference that ascribes (predominantly negative) significance and meaning to culturally, socially, and politically constructed ideas based on phenotypical features |
| Succession | Process by which new immigrants to a city move to and dominate or take over areas or neighbourhoods occupied by older immigrant groups. For example, in the early twentieth century, Puerto Ricans “invaded” the immigrant Jewish neighbourhoods of East Harlem and successfully took over the neighbourhoods or “succeeded” the immigrant Jewish population as the dominant immigrant group in the neighbourhoods. |
| Sense of Place | State of mind derived through the infusion of a place with meaning and emotion by remembering important events that occurred in that place or by labelling a place with a certain character. |
| Ethnicity | Affiliation or identity within a group of people bound by common ancestry and culture. |
| Space | Defined by Doreen Massey and Pat Jess as “social relations stretched out.” |
| Place | The third theme of geography; uniqueness of a location. |
| Gendered | In terms of a place, whether the place is designed for or claimed by men or women. |
| Heteronormative | The assumption in research that the “typical” research subject is heterosexual, white, middle- class, and male. |
| Dowry Death | In the context of arranged marriages in India, the death of a bride arising from a dispute over the price (the dowry) to be paid by the family of the bride to the father of the groom |
| Barrioization | Defined by geographer James Curtis as the dramatic increase in Hispanic population in a given neighbourhood; referring to barrio, the Spanish word for neighbourhood. |
| Culture | A set of shared belief systems, norms, and values practiced by a particular group of people. According to cultural theorist Raymond Williams, culture is both “ordinary” and a “whole way of life.” |
| Cultural Landscape | The visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape. The layers of buildings, forms,and artefacts sequentially imprinted on the landscape by the activities of various human occupants. |
| Folk Culture | Cultural traits such as dress modes, dwellings, traditions, and institutions of usually small, traditional communities. |
| Popular Culture | Cultural traits such as dress modes, dwellings, traditions, and institutions of usually small, traditional communities. |
| Local Culture | Group of people in a particular place who see themselves as a collective or a community, who share experiences, customs, and traits, and who work to preserve those traits and customs in order to claim uniqueness and to distinguish themselves from others. |
| Material Culture | The art, housing, clothing, sports, dances, foods, and other similar items constructed or created by a group of people. |
| Nonmaterial Culture | The beliefs, practices, aesthetics, and values of a group of people |
| Hierarchical Diffusion | A form of diffusion in which an idea or innovation spreads by passing first among the most connected places or peoples. An urban hierarchy is usually involved, encouraging the leapfrogging of innovations over wide areas, with geographic distance a less important influence. |
| Hearth | The area where an idea or cultural trait originates. |
| Assimilation | The process through which people lose originally differentiating traits, such as dress, speech particularities, or mannerisms, when they come into contact with another society or culture. Often used to describe immigrant adaptation to new places of residence |
| Custom | A practice routinely followed by a group of people |
| Cultural Appropriation | The process by which cultures adopt customs and knowledge from other cultures and use them for their own benefit. |
| Commodification | The process through which something is given monetary value. Commodification occurs when a good or an idea that previously was not regarded as an object to be bought and sold is turned into something that has a particular price and that can be traded in a market economy. |
| Authenticity | In the context of local cultures or customs, the accuracy with which a single stereotypical or typecast image or experience conveys an otherwise dynamic and complex local culture or its customs. |
| Reterritorialization | With respect to popular culture, a process where people within a place start to produce an aspect of popular culture themselves, doing so in the context of their local culture and making it their own |
| Cultural Trait | A single element of normal practice in a culture, such as the wearing of a turban |
| Language Family | Group of languages with a shared but fairly distant origin. |
| Placelessness | The loss of uniqueness of place in the cultural landscape so that one place looks like the next, as defined by geographer Edward Relph. |
| Language | A set of sounds, combination of sounds, and symbols that are used for communication |
| Culture | The sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior patterns shared and transmitted by the members of a society. This is anthropologist Ralph Linton's definition; hundreds of others exist |
| Standard language | The variant of a language that a country's political and intellectual elite seek to promote as the norm for use in schools, government, the media, and other aspects of public life |
| Dialects | Local or regional characteristics of a language. While accent refers to the pronunciation differences of a standard language, a dialect, in addition to pronunciation variation, has distinctive grammar and vocabulary |
| Isogloss | A geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs |
| Mutual Intelligibility | The ability of two people to understand each other when speaking |
| Dialect Chains | A set of contiguous dialects in which the dialects nearest to each other at any place in the chain are most closely related |
| Language families | Group of languages with a shared but fairly distant origin |
| Language Subfamilies | Divisions within a language family where the commonalities are more definite and the origin is more recent |
| Sound Shift | Slight change in a word across languages within a subfamily or through a language family from the present backward toward its origin |
| Proto-Indo-European | Linguistic hypothesis proposing the existence of an ancestral Indo-European language that is the hearth of the ancient Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit languages which hearth would link modern languages from Scandinavia to North Africa and from North America through parts of Asia to Australia |
| Backward Reconstruction | The tracking of sound shifts and hardening of consonants “backward” toward the original language |
| Extinct Language | Language without any native speakers |
| Deep Reconstruction | Technique using the vocabulary of an extinct language to re-create the language that proceeded the extinct language |
| Nostratic Language | Believed to be the ancestral language not only of Proto-Indo-European, but also of the Kartvelian languages of the of the southern Caucasus region, the Uralic-Altaic languages (including Hungarian, Finnish, Turkish, and Mongolian), the Dravadian languages of India, and the Afro-Asiatic language family |
| Language Divergence | The opposite of language convergence; a process suggested by German linguist August Schleicher whereby new languages are formed when a language breaks into dialects due to a lack of spatial interaction among speakers of the language and continued isolation eventually causes the division of the language into discrete new languages |
| Language Convergence | The collapsing of two languages into one resulting from the consistent spatial interaction of peoples with different languages; the opposite of language divergence |
| Renfrew Hypothesis | Hypothesis developed by British scholar Colin Renfrew wherein he proposed that three areas in and near the first agricultural hearth, the Fertile Crescent, gave rise to three language families: Europe's Indo-European languages (from Anatolia (present-day Turkey)); North African and Arabian languages (from the western arc of the Fertile Crescent); and the languages in present-day Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India (from the eastern arc of the Fertile Crescent) |
| Conquest Theory | One major theory of how Proto-Indo-European diffused into Europe which holds that the early speakers of Proto-Indo-European spread westward on horseback, overpowering earlier inhabitants and beginning the diffusion and differentiation of Indo-European tongues |
| Dispersal Hypothesis | Hypothesis which holds that the Indo-European languages that arose from Proto-Indo-European were first carried eastward into Southwest Asia, next around the Caspian Sea, and then across the Russian-Ukrainian plains and on into the Balkans |
| Romance Languages | Languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, and Portuguese) that lie in the areas that were once controlled by the Roman Empire but were not subsequently overwhelmed |
| Germanic Languages | Languages (English, German, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish) that reflect the expansion of peoples out of Northern Europe to the west and south |
| Slavic Languages | Languages (Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian, and Bulgarian) that developed as Slavic people migrated from a base in present-day Ukraine close to 2000 years ago |
| Lingua Franca | A term deriving from “Frankish language” and applying to a tongue spoken in ancient Mediterranean ports that consisted of a mixture of Italian, French, Greek, Spanish, and even some Arabic. Today it refers to a “common language,” a language used among speakers of different languages for the purposes of trade and commerce |
| Pidgin Language | When parts of two or more languages are combined in a simplified structure and vocabulary |
| Creole Language | A language that began as a pidgin language but was later adopted as the mother tongue by a people in place of the mother tongue |
| Monolingual states | Countries in which only one language is spoken |
| Multilingual states | Countries in which more than one language is spoken |
| Official Language | In multilingual countries the language selected, often by the educated and politically powerful elite, to promote internal cohesion; usually the language of the courts and government |
| Global Language | The language used most commonly around the world; defined on the basis of either the number of speakers of the language, or prevalence of use in commerce and trade |
| Toponyms | Place name |
| Religion | Defined by geographers Robert Stoddard and Carolyn Prorak in the book Geography in America as “a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities.” |
| Secularism | The idea that ethical and moral standards should be formulated and adhered to for life on Earth, not to accommodate the prescriptions of a deity and promises of a comfortable afterlife. A secular state is the opposite of a theocracy |
| Monotheistic Religions | Belief system in which one supreme being is revered as creator and arbiter of all that exists in the universe |
| Polytheistic Religions | Belief system in which multiple deities are revered as creators and arbiters of all that exists in the universe |
| Animistic Religions | The belief that inanimate objects, such as hills, trees, rocks, rivers, and other elements of the natural landscape, possess souls and can help or hinder human efforts on Earth |
| Universalizing Religions | A belief system that espouses the idea that there is one true religion that is universal in scope. Adherents of universalizing religious systems often believe that their religion represents universal truths, and in some cases great effort is undertaken in evangelism and missionary work |
| Ethnic Religion | A religion that is particular to one, culturally distinct, group of people. Unlike universalizing religions, adherents of ethnic religions do not actively seek converts through evangelism or missionary work |
| Hinduism | One of the oldest religions in the modern world, dating back over 4000 years, and originating in the Indus River Valley of what is today part of Pakistan. Hinduism is unique among the world's religions in that it does not have a single founder, a single theology, or agreement on its origins |
| Caste System | The strict social segregation of people—specifically in India's Hindu society—on the basis of ancestry and occupation |
| Buddhism | Religion founded in the sixth century BCE and characterized by the belief that enlightenment would come through knowledge, especially self-knowledge; elimination of greed, craving, and desire; complete honesty; and never hurting another person or animal. Buddhism splintered from Hinduism as a reaction to the strict social hierarchy maintained by Hinduism |
| Shintoism | Religion located in Japan and related to Buddhism. Shintoism focuses particularly on nature and ancestor worship |
| Taoism | Religion believed to have been founded by Lao-Tsu and based upon his book entitled “Tao-te-ching,” or “Book of the Way.” Lao-Tsu focused on the proper form of political rule and on the oneness of humanity and nature |
| Feng Shui | Literally “wind-water.” The Chinese art and science of placement and orientation of tombs, dwellings, buildings, and cities. Structures and objects are positioned in an effort to channel flows of sheng-chi (“life-breath”) in favorable ways |
| Confucianism | A philosophy of ethics, education, and public service based on the writings of Confucius and traditionally thought of as one of the core elements of Chinese culture |
| Judaism | Religion with its roots in the teachings of Abraham (from Ur), who is credited with uniting his people to worship only one god. According to Jewish teaching, Abraham and God have a covenant in which the Jews agree to worship only one God, and God agrees to protect his chosen people, the Jews |
| Diaspora | From the Greek “to disperse,” a term describing forceful or voluntary dispersal of a people from their homeland to a new place. Originally denoting the dispersal of Jews, it is increasingly applied to other population dispersals, such as the involuntary relocation of Black peoples during the slave trade or Chinese peoples outside of Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong |
| Zionism | The movement to unite the Jewish people of the diaspora and to establish a national homeland for them in the promised land |
| Christianity | Religion based on the teachings of Jesus. According to Christian teaching, Jesus is the son of God, placed on Earth to teach people how to live according to God's plan |
| Eastern Orthodox Church | One of three major branches of Christianity, the Eastern Orthodox Church, together with the Roman Catholic Church, a second of the three major branches of Christianity, arose out of the division of the Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian into four governmental regions: two western regions centered in Rome, and two eastern regions centered in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). In 1054 CE, Christianity was divided along that same line when the Eastern Orthodox Church, centered in Constantinople; and the Roman Catholic Church, centered in Rome, split. |
| Roman Catholic Church | One of three major branches of Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church, together with the Eastern Orthodox Church, a second of the three major branches of Christianity, arose out of the division of the Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian into four governmental regions: two western regions centered in Rome, and two eastern regions centered in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). In 1054 CE, Christianity was divided along that same line when the Eastern Orthodox Church, centered in Constantinople; and the Roman Catholic Church, centered in Rome, split. |
| Protestant | One of three major branches of Christianity (together with the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church). Following the widespread societal changes in Europe starting in the 1300s CE, many adherents to the Roman Catholic Church began to question the role of religion in their lives and opened the door to the Protestant Reformation wherein John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others challenged many of the fundamental teachings of the Roman Catholic Church |
| Islam | The youngest of the major world religions, Islam is based on the teachings of Muhammad, born in Mecca in 571 CE. According to Islamic teaching, Muhammad received the truth directly from Allah in a series of revelations during which Muhammad spoke the verses of the Qu'ran (Koran), the Islamic holy book |
| Sunni | Adherents to the largest branch of Islam, called the orthodox or traditionalist. They believe in the effectiveness of family and community in the solution of life's problems, and they differ from the Shiites in accepting the traditions (sunna) of Muhammad as authoritative |
| Shi'ite | Adherents of one of the two main divisions of Islam. Also known as Shiahs, the Shiites represent the Persian (Iranian) variation of Islam and believe in the infallibility and divine right to authority of the Imams, descendants of Ali |
| Shamanism | Community faith in traditional societies in which people follow their shaman—a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary. At times, an especially strong shaman might attract a regional following. However, most shamans remain local figures |
| Pilgrimage | Voluntary travel by an adherent to a sacred site to pay respects or participate in a ritual at the site |
| Sacred Sites | Place or space people infuse with religious meaning |
| Minarets | Tower attached to a Muslim mosque, having one or more projecting balconies from which a crier calls Muslims to prayer |
| Hajj | The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad |
| Interfaith Boundaries | Boundaries between the world's major faiths |
| Intrafaith boundaries | Boundaries within a single major faith |
| Genocide | The systematic killing or extermination of an entire people or nation |
| Activity Space | The space within which daily activity occurs |
| Religious Fundamentalism | Religious movement whose objectives are to return to the foundations of the faith and to influence state policy |
| Religious Extremism | Religious fundamentalism carried to the point of violence |
| Shari'a laws | The system of Islamic law, sometimes called Qu'ranic law. Unlike most Western systems of law that are based on legal precedence, Sharia is based on varying degrees of interpretation of the Qu'ran |
| Jihad | A doctrine within Islam. Commonly translated as “Holy War,” Jihad represents either a personal or collective struggle on the part of Muslims to live up to the religious standards set by the Qu'ran |
Want to create your own Flashcards for free with GoConqr? Learn more.