Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 22.djvu/278

 266 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. s., 22, 1920

III. DISCUSSION OF TERMS

1. A considerable proportion of the terms are indifferently used as regards the sex of the person designated (nos. i, 4, 7, 10, 14, 15, 1 6, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29). Others explicitly refer to the sex of the person designated (nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, n, 12, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26). In a few cases the sex is fixed in opposition to the sex of the speaker (nos. 13, 19). In nos. 7a and b, loa and b, and i6a and b the explicit sex reference is a purely secondary feature.

2. In a considerable number of cases the sex of the speaker is taken account of. These are: nos. 5 (in vocative), 10, n, 12, 13 (conditionally), 17, 18, 19 (conditionally), 20, 21, 22 (conditionally), 27.

3. The sex of a connecting relative or of connecting relatives is considered in nos. 5 ("father's brother"), 6 ("mother's sister"), 7 ("child of sibling of same sex as speaker"), 8, 9, 10 (conditionally), II ("nephew, niece"), 12 ("nephew, niece"), 13 ("nephew, niece"), 14, 17 (conditionally), 1 8 (conditionally), 19 (conditionally), 20 (conditionally), 21 (conditionally), 22 (conditionally), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 (conditionally). It is particularly noteworthy that the sex of the connecting relative (father's or son's generation) does not count in nos. 2, 3, and 4.

4. Reciprocity is illustrated in nos. II, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 28, 29. Not counting the last two terms, which are hardly relationship terms proper, it will be noticed that all these reciprocal terms, except lame (no. 1 6), are terms of the same generation. Reciprocity in nomenclature does not obtain, as it so often does in America, between grandparents and grandchildren, nor between uncle-aunts and nephew-nieces.

5. The distribution of the terms for "uncle" and "aunt" and, reciprocally, for "nephew" and "niece" is conditioned by whether or not the siblings of the older generation are of the same sex. If they are, the "uncle" is merged with "father" (no. 5), the "aunt" with "mother" (no. 6), the "nephew" or "niece" with "child" (no. 7). If not, special terms are used, "paternal aunt" (no. 9), "maternal uncle" (no. 8), and "cross-sibling's 1 child"

1 "Cross-sibling" means "woman's brother" or "man's sister."

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