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Introduction to Geography
People, Places, and Environment, 4e
Edward F. Bergman
William H. Renwick
Chapter 7: The Geography of
Languages and Religions
Victoria Alapo, Instructor
Geog 1010
Language & Religion
The two most important forces that bond and define
human cultures
Linguistic Geography –
The study of different dialects across space
Many Social Scientists believe that Language is the
most important cultural index.
It structures an individual’s perception of world
Defining Language
Language is a major difference in pattern of
communication e.g. English, Yoruba, French, etc.
Dialects
Minor variations in pattern within a language. E.g.
Pidgin English, American English, British English –
different types of the same language.
Official Language
One in which official records are kept & govt.
business is done. Includes formal education and
signage.
Language Regions
Lingua Franca
Polyglot states
Common language used in a country (especially in a country with
different native languages). This common language sometimes cuts
across international borders; so it could also be a current language
of international discourse.
E.g. Swahili, English, Arabic, Hausa, French, etc
Having multiple official languages e.g. India, Canada, Belgium,
S/Africa.
National Languages
Tied to just one country, e.g. Icelandic, Japanese; & Nepali
American English: Should it be the
Official Language?
U.S. Constitution did not specify language
U.S. House and Senate disagree
However, English has always been lingua
franca
Dedication to common language (patriotism)
or resentment of changing immigration
trends?
World’s Major Languages
There are more than 3,000 distinct languages worldwide
(and 1,000 of those are in Africa alone).
Mother tongues – your 1st or native language.
50% of the world population speaks one of 12 major
languages listed on next slide. Mandarin Chinese has the
largest number of speakers. Why?
English is the primary language of at least 350 million
people and is the official language of about 50 countries
Postcolonial societies (see further slides)
Imposed official languages by colonial ruler
Not always spoken by all locals
Geography of Writing
Orthography
System of writing
Alphabets
Sumerians (3000 B.C.), Egyptian (3000 B.C.), Chinese
(1300 B.C.), Olmec People of Central America (650
B.C.)
Roman
Cyrillic – offshoot of Greek
Arabic
Non-alphabetic
Chinese, Japanese, Korean
“Geography” in many languages, pg 268
Toponymy
This is the study of place names -see next 2 slides.
Consists of, or records these:
Natural features
Origins/values of inhabitants
Belief structures, religions
Current or past heroes
World’s Major Religions
Systems of beliefs guiding behavior
Fundamentalism – strictest adherence to
beliefs.
Secularism – ignores/ excludes religious
considerations.
Actually, parts of the map are not very correct if you go by Table 7-3,
which is more factual.
Judaism
14 million adherents, including Black Jews in
Ethiopia! (A reminder of both oral and written history!)
Monotheistic
Pentateuch
Sects (know these)
First five books of the Old Testament
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform
Israel
Homeland for Jewish people
Re-created 1948
Resulted in conflict between Israel and Palestine
Christianity
Emerged from Judaism
Coptic Church
Founded in Alexandria in A.D. 41
Now found mainly in Egypt and Ethiopia (if curious, see
Acts chapter 8. The story about the Ethiopian Eunuch).
Official religion of Roman Empire
Facilitated its geographical spread
Dark Ages – church was the focus of life. Time when
Church & State were one and the same.
Protestant Reformation – Martin Luther.
Significant growth in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Islam
Muhammad
Allah
Five Pillars of Islam
Belief in one God
Five daily prayers
Generous alms
Fasting during Ramadan
Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)
Main Sects
Sunni, Shiite
Others – Wahhabi, Sufi, etc
Hinduism
Hinduism
Most ancient religious tradition in Asia
Vedas – Hindu sacred texts
Belief in reincarnation
Diet (cows/ beef not allowed)
Castes (hierarchy)
Brahman, priestly
Kshatriya, warrior
Vaisya, tradesman and farmer
Sudra, servant and laborer
The Untouchables /the Dalits (see video)
Sikhism
Sikhism
Offshoot of Hinduism
Guru Nanak (founder), 1469-1539
He tried to reconcile Hinduism & Islam,
and opposed the caste system.
Buddhism
Diffused from India; created by Buddha (the
Enlightened One)
Also believe in reincarnation (Buddha was originally
a Hindu). But he hated the Caste System.
Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
Life involves suffering
Cause of suffering is desire
Elimination of desire ends suffering
Right thinking and behavior eliminate desire
Nirvana – state of enlightenment – you stop
coming back when you become “perfect”.
Other Religions
Other Eastern Religions (read text for more info)
Confucianism
Taoism
Shinto
Animism and Shamanism (Traditional)
Animism
Belief in ubiquity of spirits or spiritual forces – gods and
goddesses.
Shamanism
Shaman – Found in most parts of the world, e.g. in Siberia,
and some Native American groups. Also, in Korea, South
America, Africa, etc. This is where a medium goes into
trances and believes they are communicating with the spirit
world.
Social & Political Impacts of
Religion
Theocracy
Church rules directly e.g. the Vatican; many Islamic
States.
Gender roles
Diet
Women’s rights – Christian vs. Islamic States
Vegetarians (Buddhists), pork (Muslims, Jews), beef (Hindus),
alcohol (Muslims), etc
Ethics, morals, schools and institutions
Burial practices; concepts about the world’s origin
Relationship with nature (Exploitive approach – e.g. Capitalism;
Adaptive approach – e.g. Buddhism)