Ethnographic group

An ethnographic group or ethnocultural group is a group with special cultural traits that make it different from the larger ethnic group it belongs to. People in these groups see themselves as part of a bigger ethnic group but also have their own unique identity. These groups often mix into the larger group but keep special traditions, like the way they speak, their religion, their clothes, or other cultural habits.

The idea of an ethnographic group is not often talked about in Western books. It comes mostly from studies done in the late 20th century in the countries of the old Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc. Scholars from countries like Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, and Poland have used this term in their work.

Paul R. Magocsi, an American historian who studies Ukrainian studies, says that the idea of an ethnographic group is very close to that of an ethnic group. Some scholars even use the two terms as if they mean the same thing. However, not all scholars agree that ethnographic groups are different from ethnic groups.

One example of an ethnographic group is splitting the Subcarpathian Rus Rusyns ethnic group into smaller groups like the Lemkos, Boikian, and Hutsul groups. Other groups that some scholars call ethnographic groups include Pomaks in Bulgaria, Lipka Tatars in Poland, Adjarians and Khevsurians in Georgia, Bavarians in Germany, and Feylis in Iraq and Iran.