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)

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


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)