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Explore the intriguing world of kinship in animals and humans, from biological relationships to cultural systems shaped by language. Delve into the evolutionary origins, diverse terminologies, and social implications of kinship across different species. Discover how language influences the complex network of family connections and societal norms. Uncover the distinct categories and variations in kinship terminologies, shedding light on the intricate tapestry of human relationships.
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Mother-child bonds in higher primates • Evolutionary origins and biological basis • Conditions of life in the trees • Fewer offspring per birth. • Greater care of each offspring
Weak or absent bondsbeyond the mother-child bond • “Fathers” are marginal. • provide no special • are not recognized. • Siblings, grandparents, aunts, cousins? • not recognized. • Not given special treatment • Conclusion: other animal species have: • biological relationships but • no “kinship system” cultural sense.
Human kinship systems are based on language • A general term to distinguish a sub-group of humans • “family”, “kin”, “relatives” • Special terms for different types of relatives. • “Kinship terminologies” • Rules for behavior toward different subgroups of kin • Children are taught • the terminology for different groups of kin • the rules of behavior toward each group • Conclusion: The cultural system “kinship” requires language.
Objective categories of kin • Consanguineal vs. affinal • “blood relatives” vs. “in-laws” by marriage • Lineal vs. collateral • Ego’s generation vs. ascending / descending gen. • These are universal categories used by anthropologists. • Similar to the phonological grid of linguists • Different cultures use their own terms
Chinese vs. English kinship terminology • Patrilateral kin vs. Matrilateral kin • Chinese distinguishes. • More distinctions on father’s side. • Mother’s kin often called “outsider” • English merges. No diff. between father’s and mother’s kin • Birth order and seniority • Chinese distinguishes • English merges • Family names: both are patronymic
Why have different terminologies emerged? • Not simply linguistic differences. • Theory: terminologies reflect social organization • The “patrilineal clan” served three functions • Landholding group • Military group • Exogamous marital group
Terminological “lag” • Social conditions may change, but old terms persist. • A terminology may reflect past social organization.
Evolution of terminologies • Impact of French on English collateral terms • Hypothetical terminological impact of the one-child family system.
Summary of major conclusions • All animals have “biological relations”. • Only human language permits “kinship”. • Kinship is a cultural system with two elements: • Kinship labels and terminologies • Rules of behavior • Kinship terminologies differ among cultures. • Kinship terminologies evolve. • But they evolve more slowly than behavior. • They may reflect the past.
