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Kinship Terminology — 2018 Paper I
Question · 2018 · Paper I · 10 Marks
Kinship Terminology
Model Answer
VAID ICSApproach
- Demand of Question: Explain kinship terminology as a system of culturally classifying and addressing relatives.
- Structuring the Response: Define the concept, distinguish major types of terms, and relate terminology to descent, marriage and social behaviour.
- Key Dimensions to Cover: Morgan, classificatory and descriptive terms, reference/address, consanguineal-affinal kin and major terminological systems.
Model Answer
Introduction: Kinship terminology refers to the culturally standardized words used to designate, classify and address relatives. It provides insight into how a society organizes descent, marriage and interpersonal obligations.
L.H. Morgan, in Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family (1871), pioneered comparative study of kinship terminology.
Major distinctions
- Descriptive terminology: A separate term denotes a specific genealogical relationship.
Example:
Father ≠ Father’s brother
- Classificatory terminology: Several genealogically distinct relatives are included under the same kin term.
For example, in some societies:
Father + Father’s brother → Same kin category
Other distinctions
Kin terms may differentiate:
- consanguineal and affinal relatives;
- generation;
- sex;
- lineality versus collaterality;
- cross and parallel relatives;
- relative age.
Terms may also be:
- terms of reference — used when speaking about a relative;
- terms of address — used when speaking directly to them.
Later comparative anthropology identified patterns such as Hawaiian, Eskimo, Iroquois, Crow, Omaha and Sudanese terminologies.
Conclusion: Kinship terminology is not merely vocabulary; it reflects culturally important distinctions concerning descent, alliance, inheritance and expected social behaviour.
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