Terminological correlates of cross-cousin marriage

Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkendunde • Vol/Iss. 121 • Published In • Pages: 121-139 •
By Coult, Allan D.

Abstract

This study examines Crow and Omaha kinship terminologies, cross-cousin marriage practices, and descent rules. Several hypotheses relating these three variables are tested.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)

Hypotheses (5)

HypothesisSupported
". . . Crow and Omaha terminology should be associated with matrilateral cross-cousin marriage, or, if these terminologies occur in the absence of such marriage, their presence is an indicator that such marriage was formerly practiced" (122)Not Supported
There is an association between avunculocality and matrilateral cross-cousin marriage (135)Supported
". . . since Omaha terminology tends to be associated with patrilineality, . . . and since patrilineality is associated with patripotestality, then Omaha terminology should be associated with preferential matrilateral cross-cousin marriage" (137)Supported
"Crow terminology, since it tends to be associated with strong matrilineality and, hence, with avunculopotestality, should . . . be associated with preferential patrilateral cross-cousin marriage" (137)Supported
"[There is] a relationship . . . between Iroquois and preferential bilateral cross-cousin marriage, since Iroquois terminology tends to be associated with weak matrilineality and patrilineality and therefore with societies which . . . tend to be bipotestal" (138)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas  Amelia Piazza