Human Geography Culture What is Culture Culture the

Human Geography: Culture

What is Culture? Culture: the beliefs, customs, and behaviors of a particular society, group, place, or time Culture is learned through teaching and imitation of others in that culture.

Components of Culture • Religion • Language • Education • Government • Economy • Technology • Race/Ethnicity • Clothing • Food • Art/Architecture • Music/Dance • Recreation/Sports • Family Life • Beliefs/Values • Traditions

Race: a biological classification- based on a person’s physical appearance such as skin, eye, and hair color, as well as bone structure (Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, etc. ). Race is how you’re perceived by others. You cannot choose your race. Ethnicity: a person’s cultural identity and ancestrya person can learn things to become a part of an ethnic group. (Italian, Irish, Arab, French, American, Swedish, Japanese, etc. ) http: //www. pbs. org/race/000_About/002_04 experts-03 -02. htm

Ethnocentrism: the belief that one’s own culture is superior to another culture. Example: Nazi Germany against the Jews. “The Jew: Inciter of war, prolonger of war. ”

Religion Polytheism: The belief in multiple gods. (Hinduism, Buddhism) Four most practiced religions of the world: Christianity: about 2 billion practicing world wide Islam: about one billion practicing- mostly in Middle East, Indonesia, Pakistan, Africa, China, and Eastern Europe. Hinduism: Almost one billion practicing- India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Asia Region Buddhism: More than 300 million practicing.

Language Dialect: a version of a language that includes changes related to class, region, and other cultural changes. Describes both a person’s accent and the grammatical features of the way a person talks. Most spoken languages of the world Language 1. Chinese (Mandarin) Approx. number of speakers 1, 917, 000 2. Spanish 406, 000 3. English 335, 000 4. Hindi 1 260, 000 5. Arabic 223, 000 6. Portuguese 202, 000 7. Bengali 193, 000 8. Russian 162, 000 9. Japanese 122, 000 10. Javanese 84, 300, 000

Subculture: a group that has beliefs and behaviors that are different from the main groups within a culture or society.

Material Culture: the physical evidence created by a culture. Ex: technology, clothing, architecture, weaponry.

Acculturation: when a culture adopts some aspects of another culture, while keeping many aspects of their original culture. Assimilation: when members of a certain culture adapt completely to the ways of another culture.

Example of assimilation: “kill the Indian to save the man. ” 1882 Assimilation Policy Carlisle Indian School

Cultural diffusion: the spreading and borrowing of ideas, customs, and material goods from one culture to another.

Taboo: different behaviors that are frowned upon in society. These would be taboos in our society, but are acceptable behaviors in other cultures.

American Taboos • Cannibalism • Public Nudity • Abortion • Devil Worship • Drug Use • Child Abuse Chinese Taboos • Opening gifts in front of giver • Waving people towards you with an upturned hand Switzerland Taboos • Talking loudly in public • Giving expensive gifts • Asking personal questions Japanese Taboos • Burping in public • Touching nose or any bodily fluids • Not wearing a mask if you’re ill