Diffusion Vocabulary

closer groups of people are more alike than groups that were further from each other.

• distance decay

• Friction of distance

• Globalization

• Time-space compression

As a cultural trait diffuses, the people who adopt it might alter it

• Cultural Convergence

• Friction of distance

• Cultural Divergence

• distance decay

a trend toward increased cultural and economic connectedness between people, businesses, and organizations throughout the world without regard to borders or barriers

• Time-space compression

• Isogloss

• Globalization

• cultural hearth

 The shrinking of the world due to improvements in communication and transportation technologies.

• distance decay

• Friction of distance

• Acculturation

• Time-space compression

The process of two or more cultures coming into contact with each other and adopting each other’s traits to become more alike.

• Cultural Convergence

• Cultural Divergence

• Assimilation

• Multiculturalism

Cultures become LESS alike due to both cultural and physical barriers. The process of a culture restricting contact with other cultures in an attempt to retain its originality.

• Cultural Convergence

• Cultural Divergence

• Assimilation

• Acculturation

Largest group of related languages which are connected through a common, ancient ancestry and trace back to a common hearth.

• Isogloss

• Multiculturalism

• Assimilation

• Language Family

A geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs. Lines that divide dialects.

• Globalization

• distance decay

• Isogloss

• cultural hearth

the geographic origin of a culture or cultural trait.

• cultural hearth

• Acculturation  

• Isogloss

• Cultural Divergence

Prolonged contact between two or more cultures may results when people within one culture adopt some traits from the other culture.

• Isogloss

• Multiculturalism

• Assimilation

• Acculturation