Y09W18VC Theme Words — Cultural appropriation

Voluntary agreement or permission given freely, especially for something to be done to or involving oneself.

Word family: consent (v.), consensual (adj.)

Example: Using another culture's sacred practices without consent is widely regarded as a form of cultural appropriation.

Synonyms: agreement, permission, approval

Collocations: informed consent, give consent, without consent

A feeling of deep admiration or consideration for someone or something because of their qualities or rights.

Word family: respectful (adj.), respectfully (adv.)

Example: Genuine cultural exchange is built on respect for the significance and ownership of the practices being shared.

Synonyms: regard, esteem, consideration

Collocations: show respect, mutual respect, cultural respect

To act or speak on behalf of someone; or to depict someone or something in a particular way.

Word family: representation (n.), representative (n.)

Example: Advocates argue that communities should represent themselves, rather than being represented by outsiders.

Synonyms: depict, portray, stand for

Collocations: represent accurately, self-represent, represent communities

To come together or meet at a common point; to move toward the same position or result.

Word family: convergence (n.), convergent (adj.)

Example: The perspectives of the two scholars converge on one key point: cultural exchange must be built on genuine respect.

Synonyms: meet, come together, unite

Collocations: converge on, begin to converge, converge gradually

To separate and move in different directions; to differ or deviate from a shared starting point.

Word Breakdown: di- (prefix meaning 'two' or 'apart')

Word family: divergence (n.), divergent (adj.)

Example: Scholarly opinion begins to diverge when the discussion moves from defining cultural appropriation to determining its harm.

Synonyms: differ, deviate, separate

Collocations: diverge from, begin to diverge, sharply diverge

To bring into agreement or coordination; to position someone or something in line with another.

Word family: alignment (n.), aligned (adj.)

Example: The organisation's values do not align with the commercial exploitation of sacred symbols for profit.

Synonyms: match, correspond, agree

Collocations: align with, align values, align closely

To say or show that something is the opposite of, or inconsistent with, what has already been stated.

Word Breakdown: contra- (prefix meaning 'against' or 'opposing')

Word family: contradiction (n.), contradictory (adj.)

Example: The company's stated commitment to cultural sensitivity directly contradicts its practice of selling ceremonial items as fashion accessories.

Synonyms: dispute, refute, challenge

Collocations: contradict the claim, contradict itself, directly contradict

To show or compare the differences between two or more things.

Word family: contrast (n.), contrasting (adj.)

Example: The essay contrasts authentic cultural collaboration with exploitative appropriation to distinguish between the two.

Synonyms: compare, differentiate, set against

Collocations: contrast with, sharply contrast, contrast two ideas

Used in academic writing to signal that the argument or position being made departs from or differs with something already established.

Example: Most critics focus on intent; this diverges from the view that harm, not intent, should be the central criterion.

Synonyms: this departs from, this differs from, this moves away from

Collocations: this diverges from the view that, this diverges significantly from, this argument diverges from