Anthropology is the study of humans. It is a broad and complex field that covers everything from the physical characteristics of humans to their cultural, social, and linguistic practices.
Anthropology has many subfields, including archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Each of these subfields has its own specialized vocabulary.
This anthropology glossary of terms provides definitions for some of the most commonly used terms in anthropological research.
Avunculate is a term that refers to the relationship between a maternal uncle and his sister’s children, with particular focus on her sons. The term originates from the latin word avunculus, which means uncle.
Commensality refers to the sharing food and drink with others, either as a domestic unit or as a sign of hospitality and friendship.
Ethnosemantics is part of cognitive anthropology, which is the study of human cognition. The goal is to provide a better understanding of how people think and how they use language.
Bride capture is a term used by anthropologists to describe a marriage in which a woman is abducted or kidnapped by a man and taken as his wife.
Auto-ethnography is a type of ethnography that is written by a member of the society under study. In other words, it is an account of personal experience that is used to explore cultural phenomena.
Anthropology of the City is the study of how people use and create space in cities, and how cities affect people’s lives. It looks at the way that cities are built, and how people adapt to urban life.
Ethnomusicology is the study of music in its cultural context. It encompasses all aspects of music, from performance and composition to history and analysis.
In Marxist theory, the bourgeoisie are the capitalists who own the means of production, such as factories and land, and exploit the working class for their own gain.
The principle of alliance is the idea that humans are social animals who form alliances with each other in order to survive. In this context, the idea of a “marriage alliance” evolved, highlighting the essential connection of many families and lineages.
A cargo cult is a religious movement that arises in a society where modern goods (cargo) are introduced, but the indigenous people do not have the means to produce or obtain them themselves.