Page 60 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship

Notes kin classify them into various classes and sub-classes. Sometimes this classification harmonises
with social reality and sometimes it doesn’t.
The studies of kinship addressing words too, is very ancient. In sociology at least half a part of
literature related to kinship tells us about the various words we use to address our lineage kin
and affinal kin. Morgan was the first scholar who contributed significantly to study the kinship
terminology. Throughout his like, he studied the Iraquis tribe of the state of New York. He
found that the method used by Iraquis people to address their kin is different from the Western
societies. For example, the word used to address father is used by them for father’s brother,
mother’s brother, etc. Similarly, the word used to address mother is also used for mother’s sister.
To define the discovery of this, Morgan studied all the kinship addressing words prevalent in
all parts of the world. He came to the conclusion that the system of common kinship names is
also prevalent in countries which are geographically far away or in different time zones. Some
name systems are prevalent in all the countries and societies. Morgan said, that the study of
Terminology is the highway to understand kinship. He termed ‘Terminology’ as a process of
classification by which we can know how the various systems classify kin. To know the Kinship
Terminology, we can understand the rise and development of kinship systems because it
provides a link to understand the past system. Today Morgan’s classification is recognised and
used worldwide in sociology.
(i) Speicial, classificatory or Personal words symbolise reality of Kinship and are used for those
people only who are addressed while talking or are used reference while talking. For example,
when we say “father”, we refer to a special Kin, who is known as father in the society. son, wife,
mother, etc., are such special words.
(ii) On the contrary, “According to the classified system, only one Kinship symbolising word is
used for affinal kin and individuals from one branch and various other branches. The Kinship
addressing words consider them equal as a class.
For example, the Sema Nagas of Assam use the word ‘Aja’ for mother, father’s brother’s, broth-
er’s wife, maternal aunt, etc. (for three kinds of relatives) ‘Appu’ is used for father, father’s
brother and mother’s sister’s husband. The word ‘Ami’ is used for paternal aunt and mother-in-
law. The Kukis use the word ‘Hape’ for paternal grandfather, maternal grandfather, maternal
uncle, father-in-law, maternal uncle’s son, brother-in-law, nephew, etc. (for individuals of vari-
ous age groups and generations). Angami Nagas use the word ‘Buri’ for elder brother, wife’s
sister, husband’s elder brother and his wife, paternal aunt, etc. Here, we see that for the opposite
gender too, only one word is used. In English, the word ‘Cousin’ is used for paternal uncle’s,
maternal uncles’, paternal aunts’, and maternal aunts sons and daughters. Similarly, ‘Uncle’ too
is used for father’s brother, maternal uncle, paternal uncle, etc. Dr. Revers has mentioned a third
system of kinship addressing term which is used by the biological family.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
1. ______________ was the first scholar who contributed significantly in studying the Kinship
Terminology.
2. We mean a ___________, who is known as father in the society.
3. The word ____________ is used for paternal aunt and mother-in-law.

Some other definitions are also available. It has been suggested that the Classified Terminology
may be based on imaginary sense of equality amongst the special Kin. Kober and some other
writers have defined it vaguely, saying that words give a mere name to an individual and the
Kinship Terms of Address are mere instruments of introduction. Thus, no serious meaning can
be derived from them. It may be true that the more limited or the more developed a language,
equally less or equally more is its Classificatory Terminology.

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