Cultural Geography

         Cultural characteristic are parts of a groups everyday life. They are the ideas and themes which the group will teach to all members: These same characteristics can also link or divide a region. Examples of cultural characteristics would be language, religion, and ethnic heritage. The number one thing you learn from your parents is language. Brazil is the only South American nation that does not speak Spanish, they speak Portuguese. Canada is a bilingual nation. Both French and English are their official languages. The United States do not have an official language. Switzerland has multiple languages but very little conflict between the groups. English is now considered the world language and is used for most business transaction around the world. In Yugoslavia, many ethnic groups were made into one country (Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Albanians). When strong leadership died out, the different groups fought a very bloody civil war and now they all have separate nations. The United States and Switzerland have peacefully merged multiple ethnic groups in their countries. Korea, Japan, and China have primarily one ethnic group.