Page 61 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 8: Kinship Terminology

Redcliffe-Brown have brought quite clarification in the field of Kinship studies by scientific Notes
approach. Unlike Morgan, they studied the Kinship systems without any developmental preju-
dice. Dismissing every sceptical effort to find the birth of the Kinship custom, they studied it
very finely on functional basis. The chief motive of such studies is to understand the entirely of
the activities of society with reference to any period or all periods. So, Redcliffe-Brown have
given the definition of ‘marriage’ and ‘Kinship systems’ as such a system which makes the in-
dividuals capable of staying together and supporting each other for a systematic social life.
They considered the studies of the prevalent ‘Kinship Terminology’ as the first phase of Kinship
systems.
Redcliffe-Brown have created simplifications too. Their ideologies are: The ideology of unequality
amongst close generations, unity of sibling group, etc. According to the other ideology, the unity
of the group called ‘Sib’ is expressed by considering all the ‘Sib’ members of its age group as its sib-
lings and using sibling related words to address them. A Shattered group too, takes the form of a
well-organised unit. Like an irreversible rule, it logically results in Exogamy marriage. With
reference to the first ideology, when a generation is prepared for the education and training of
its following generation, and its essentials to maintain the power of the senior generation, the,
with these facts, the ideology of the unequality of the close generations is expressed.

Morgan studied the Kinship words prevalent all over the world and divided
them into chiefly two parts—Classificatory Terminology and Descriptive
Terminology.

8.2 Summary

• ‘Kinship Term of Address’ is such a terminology which is used to mention the Kinship of
various Kin.
• Morgan divided it into two parts—(1) Descriptive Kinship, (2) Classificatory Kinship
Terminology.
• When many Kin are classified into one class and addressed by one (common) term of
address, it is called Classificatory Kinship Terminology. In Oraon, the word ‘Tachi’ is used
for Father’s sister, mother’s brother’s wife and mother-in-law.

8.3 Keywords
1. Descriptive Kinship Terms—use of a specific term for every Kin.
2. Kinship Terms of Address—use of a specific term by an individual to call or address his kin,
(like, Mummy, Papa, Daddy, Baba, etc.)

8.4 Review Qusestions
1. What does Kinship Terminology mean?
2. Into how many parts has Morgan divided Kinship words?

Answers: Self Assessment
1. Morgan 2. Specific Kin 3. Aami

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