A cultural frame glossary is a collection of terms and definitions related to cultural frames. A cultural frame itself is a lens through which individuals interpret the world, shaped by their cultural background, beliefs, and experiences. Therefore, a cultural frame glossary helps clarify the language used when discussing cultural influences on behavior, perception, and understanding. It's a resource to ensure consistent and accurate communication about cultural contexts.
What Makes a Cultural Frame Glossary Important?
Several sources highlight the importance of clear terminology when dealing with cultural concepts:
- Consistent Understanding: Glossaries ensure everyone involved in a discussion uses the same definitions for key concepts, preventing misunderstandings stemming from differing interpretations.
- Education and Training: Glossaries serve as educational tools, especially in areas like diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and intercultural communication. They provide accessible definitions for various cultural terms and concepts. See examples like the glossaries provided by the University of Washington's College of the Environment (https://environment.uw.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion/tools-and-additional-resources/glossary-dei-concepts) and the Chicago Public Schools (https://www.cps.edu/sites/equity/equity-framework/about-the-framework/glossary/).
- Framework Support: Many frameworks addressing cultural competency or cultural understanding rely on glossaries to define terms within the framework itself. This is exemplified by the Council of Europe's Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (https://www.coe.int/en/web/reference-framework-of-competences-for-democratic-culture/glossary) and the numerous examples of glossaries accompanying DEI initiatives found in various institutions and organizations.
- Research and Analysis: A well-defined glossary supports academic research and analysis by providing a common language for discussing complex cultural phenomena.
Examples of Terms Found in Cultural Frame Glossaries:
Glossaries often include terms covering various aspects of culture, such as:
- Cultural Capital: The skills, education, norms, and behaviors acquired by individuals within a particular culture.
- Cultural Appropriation: The non-consensual or misappropriation of cultural elements from one group by another.
- Racial Justice: The pursuit of a society free from racial bias and discrimination. (See, for example, the United Way's Equity Framework glossary: http://equity.unitedway.org/resources-tools/glossary).
- Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education: Educational approaches that acknowledge and value the cultural backgrounds of students. (Reference: New York State Education Department's framework: https://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/programs/crs/culturally-responsive-sustaining-education-framework.pdf)
