Language and Religion

Classification of Languages Language Families  Related in their Prehistorical origin  50% of the world’s population speak Indo-European languages Language Group  Recent common origins and also share similar grammar and vocabulary  Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian and Catalan are classified under the Romance branch as part of the Indo-European family.

Tree of Languages

How Does Language Spread? Speakers move and carry their language, or… Groups are dominated and adopt the new language

How Do Languages Change? Can happen slowly within a language New contacts with outside groups  European contact with indigenous populations New Technologies call for new words  Computers, Cell Phones, etc.  Webster’s Dictionary added 2,000 new words this past year  Ex. Ringtone, Spyware, Biodiesel, Gastric Bypass, Unibrow

Standard and Variant Languages Standard:  The accepted form of the language (Syntax, pronunciation, vocabulary)  Ex. National News Broadcast, English Textbook

Standard and Variant Languages (Cont.) Dialects  Variations in vocabulary, pronunciation, rhythm or speed of language (Often an indicator of class)  Ex. New England, Jamaican, Southern

Standard and Variant Languages (Cont.) Pidgin  A simplified version of one language (used for informal exchanges between cultures who do not know each other’s language)

Standard and Variant Languages (Cont.) Creole  If pidgin is used enough to become a primary language, it is a Creole language  Ex. Swahili in East Africa, Cajun "The paint you want? The brands you trust... The place that you prefer!"

Standard and Variant Languages (Cont.) Lingua Franca  A third language adopted by people from different groups when they cannot speak each other’s language  In Europe, all students are required to learn English. Therefore, when a Spaniard speaks to a Frenchman, they speak to each other in English – The lingua franca

Language and Conflict

French speakers in Quebec  Many want to secede from Canada and create their own country “English Only” advocates in the U.S.  Specifically California and Texas with an influx of Mexicans

Language and Toponymy Toponymy is the study of place names  Can reveal much about the history of a region  New York --- York, England  St. Louis, Louisiana --- Names for French King Louis  New Orleans --- Orleans, France  Austin --- Stephen F. Austin, founding father of Texas  Houston --- Sam Houston, President of Texas  Islamabad --- Named for Islamic faith

Patterns of Religion Religion and Culture  Religion determines our view of the world and our place in it Religious Landscape  Structures of worship (Temple, Church, Mosque)  Cemeteries and other sacred spaces (Pilgrimages)

Classification of Religion Monotheistic religions  Worship ONE Deity Polytheistic religions  Worship MULTIPLE Deities Universalizing religions  Seek Converts (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism) Ethnic religions  Practiced by people within one cultural group. They do not seek converts (Hinduism, Judaism, indigenous religions)

Diffusion of Religion Conversion through missionizing  Latin America’s conversion to Catholicism with the Spanish conquest and missionaries Conquest Migration  Voluntary – Immigration into United States, Search for better jobs or livelihoods  Forced – Slavery, Trail of Tears, Holocaust

Judaism Judaism originated in the Middle East  Diaspora (Being kicked out of Israel) took place in the 1 st Century AD  Return to Israel in the 20 th Century  Also in urban areas of Europe and the US

Christianity Christianity grew out of Judaism  Spread to Europe when adopted as official religion of the Roman Empire  Taken to European colonies during colonial rule  Predominate religion of the Western Hemisphere

Islam Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula in the early 600s AD  Early spread by conquest  Later spread through trade and seeking converts  Predominate religion of Northern Africa and Middle East

Hinduism Hinduism is an ancient religion of South Asia  Has not spread outside South Asia in great numbers, but…  British rule relocated many who took Hinduism with them

Buddhism Buddhism originated in South Asia (India)  Today more widely practiced in East Asia  Taken to East Asia along trade routes

East Asian Ethnic Religions Confucianism  Became official Chinese religion in 2 nd Century BC (Code of Behavior) Taoism  Lao Tse (6 th Century BC) Shinto  Japan (Animistic – Belief in spirits in nature)