Something

/**
 * Create a vocabulary with a tree of terms beneath it, optionally specifying the module that will handle
 * the paths for that taxonomy.
 */
function profile_helper_make_vocabulary($vocabulary, $module = NULL) {
  taxonomy_vocabulary_save($vocabulary);
  if (isset($vocabulary['terms'])) {
    foreach($vocabulary['terms'] as $term) {
      $term['vid'] = $vocabulary['vid'];
      taxonomy_save_term($term);
    }
  }
}