Kinship Terms

KINSHIP TERMS

Kinship terms are used to designate the kin of various family members and their status and role within the family. The term ‘Kin’ gives us a clue about the kind of family, its rule of residence, its rules of descent and other aspects of social organization.

Morgan made an important study of kinship terms. He classified these terms into:

1. Classificatory Term: 

The term, which applies to persons of two or more kinship categories, is known as classificatory term. For example, the term ‘cousin’ is used to refer to father’s brother’s son, father’s sister’s son and mother’s brother’s son, as well as to mother’s sister’s son. Similarly, the term ‘uncle’ refers to mother’s brother, father’s brother, mother’s sister’s husband and father’s sister’s husband. Sema Naga of Assam uses aja for mother, father’s brother’s wife, and mother’s sister. Among Kuki clans, hepu, is used for father’s father, mother’s father, mother’s brother, wife’s father, mother’s brother’s son, wife’s brother, wife’s brother’s son. Thus, people of various age groups are designated by the same term. Among Angami Naga, the same term is used for members of opposite sexes. The word shi stands for elder brother’s wife, mother’s brother’s wife, father’s brother’s wife. Among the Ho tribe mother’s brother, father’s sister’s husband and the fathers of both husband and wife are termed as ‘hoyar’. Therefore, it restricts the relationship within a few members because all the distant kin members can hardly be designated specifically with distinct terms.

2. Descriptive Term: 

The kinship terms, which are formed by combining two or more elementary terms, are known as descriptive terms. Thus, ‘aunt’ is a classificatory term, but ‘mother’ is a descriptive term. In Hindi, we mostly use descriptive terms. Thus, the terms chacha, mama, mausa, taoo, sala, bahnoi, nandoi, bhanja, bhatija, bhabhi, devar, etc. are descriptive and designate the speaker’s exact relation. Even in Bengali kinship terms, like father’s elder brother is termed as ‘Jetha,’ younger brother is termed as ‘kaka,’ one’s own elder sister is named as ‘Didi,’ younger one is designated as ‘bon’ and even depending on the place of succession, they are called ‘Bordada’ or ‘Bordidi’ (elder brother and elder sister). Morgan identified a descriptive term as one that subsumes a relatively smaller number of types, preferably having unique referents.

There is no place in the world where either the pure descriptive or the pure classificatory systems are used. Both systems are found prevalent. So, the terms of kinship are distinct and elaborate.