Lineage
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Source: Ernest L. Schusky, Manual for Kinship
Analysis, 2nd ed. NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1972, p. 72.
Segmentary
Lineages -- Brian Schwimme
Moiety
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Source: Ernest L. Schusky, Manual for Kinship
Analysis, 2nd ed. NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1972, p. 75.
Kinds of Descent Groups
- lineage = unilineal descent group based on demonstrated descent
- clan = unilineal descent group based on stipulated descent
- phratry = an association of clans in a unilineal system
- moiety = one of two descent groups in a given population; usually
moieties intermarry
- a dualistic association of phratries, clans, or lineages
- kindred = a (usually) non-corporate group that shares a common
living ancestor
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- incest -- sexual relations with a culturally-defined "close
relative"
- exogamy -- rule requiring people to marry outside their own group
- endogamy -- marriage between people of the same group
- plural marriages (polygamy) -- any marriage with more
than two spouses
- polygyny -- variety of plural marriage in which several
women simultaneously share one husband
- seems to work out best when the wives are sisters ("sororal
polygyny")
- polandry -- variety of plural marriage in which a woman
simultaneously has more than one husband
- rare
- e.g., Tibetans, and Todas of India are the most famous
- children are usually bethrothed in infancy
- when the wife becomes pregnant one of the brothers goes through
the ceremony of "presenting the bow"
- this makes him the jural father
- there is little concern over the biological sire
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