Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical Category
This paper explains the concept of kinship terminology as an analytical category in anthropology and highlights its importance. Special attention is given to the differences in approach and methodology employed in anthropology compared to comparative philology and historical linguistics when it come...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Belgrade
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/1168 |
| _version_ | 1797770972094267392 |
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| author | Zorica Ivanović |
| author_facet | Zorica Ivanović |
| author_sort | Zorica Ivanović |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper explains the concept of kinship terminology as an analytical category in anthropology and highlights its importance. Special attention is given to the differences in approach and methodology employed in anthropology compared to comparative philology and historical linguistics when it comes to this type of research. In addition to discussing the typology of kinship terminology systems, the paper addresses current knowledge regarding two longstanding questions: 1. the relationship between kinship terminology and non-linguistic elements (principles of social organisation and kinship behaviour), and 2. historical changes and transformations of kinship terminological systems.
From the perspective of contemporary anthropology, when interpreting the prevalence of different types of kinship terminology worldwide, it is necessary to consider and distinguish between two principles of grouping: the ‘principle of propinquity’ and the ‘principle of form.’ The principle of propinquity can be applied when dealing with societies that are linguistically, geographically, and historically connected. When terminologies with the same formal characteristics, including identical rules of kinship classification, exist in geographically, linguistically, and historically distinct and distant societies, the principle of form is applied, which focuses more on logical rather than historical connections between systems.
While earlier studies focused on finding logically powerful and empirically efficient analytical means of classification, in recent decades the emphasis has increasingly shifted towards broader social, historical, and cognitive issues and processes. Contemporary approaches to kinship terminology aim to identify and explain variations rather than categorise such systems into one general category or another. Because what matters is not which category fits better, but rather which features can be combined in different ways to form a concrete system in the real world.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:29:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b9340bcd7804b778b280fe4a8ebcb62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0353-1589 2334-8801 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:29:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | University of Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b9340bcd7804b778b280fe4a8ebcb622023-07-27T22:38:10ZengUniversity of BelgradeEtnoantropološki Problemi0353-15892334-88012023-07-0118210.21301/eap.v18i2.3Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical CategoryZorica Ivanović0Department of Ethnology and Anthropology Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, SerbiaThis paper explains the concept of kinship terminology as an analytical category in anthropology and highlights its importance. Special attention is given to the differences in approach and methodology employed in anthropology compared to comparative philology and historical linguistics when it comes to this type of research. In addition to discussing the typology of kinship terminology systems, the paper addresses current knowledge regarding two longstanding questions: 1. the relationship between kinship terminology and non-linguistic elements (principles of social organisation and kinship behaviour), and 2. historical changes and transformations of kinship terminological systems. From the perspective of contemporary anthropology, when interpreting the prevalence of different types of kinship terminology worldwide, it is necessary to consider and distinguish between two principles of grouping: the ‘principle of propinquity’ and the ‘principle of form.’ The principle of propinquity can be applied when dealing with societies that are linguistically, geographically, and historically connected. When terminologies with the same formal characteristics, including identical rules of kinship classification, exist in geographically, linguistically, and historically distinct and distant societies, the principle of form is applied, which focuses more on logical rather than historical connections between systems. While earlier studies focused on finding logically powerful and empirically efficient analytical means of classification, in recent decades the emphasis has increasingly shifted towards broader social, historical, and cognitive issues and processes. Contemporary approaches to kinship terminology aim to identify and explain variations rather than categorise such systems into one general category or another. Because what matters is not which category fits better, but rather which features can be combined in different ways to form a concrete system in the real world. https://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/1168kinshipterminologyanthropological analysissystemtypetransformations |
| spellingShingle | Zorica Ivanović Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical Category Etnoantropološki Problemi kinship terminology anthropological analysis system type transformations |
| title | Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical Category |
| title_full | Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical Category |
| title_fullStr | Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical Category |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical Category |
| title_short | Kinship Terminology as a (Still) Significant Anthropological Analytical Category |
| title_sort | kinship terminology as a still significant anthropological analytical category |
| topic | kinship terminology anthropological analysis system type transformations |
| url | https://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/1168 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zoricaivanovic kinshipterminologyasastillsignificantanthropologicalanalyticalcategory |