CHAPTER VIII

THE CLASSIFICATORY SYSTEM

The classificatory system--The author’s theory is the opposite of Mr. Morgan’s, of original brother and sister marriage--That theory is based on Malayan terms of relationship--Nephew, niece, and cousin, all named ‘sons and daughters’--This fact of nomenclature used as an argument for promiscuity--The author’s theory--The names for relationship given as regards the group, not the individual--The names and rules evolved in the respective interests of three generations--They apply to food as well as to marriage--Each generation is a strictly defined class--Terms for relationship indicate, _not kinship_, but relative seniority and rights in relation to the group--The distinction of age in generations breaks down in practice--Methods of bilking the letter of the law--Communal marriage--Outside suitors and cousinage--The fact of cousinage unperceived and unnamed--Cousins are still called brothers and sisters; thus, when a man styles his sister’s son his son, the fact does not prove, as in Mr. Morgan’s theory, that his sister is his wife--Terms of address between brothers and sisters--And between members of the same and of different phratries--These corroborate the author’s theory--distinction as to sexual rights yields the classificatory system--Progress outran recognition and verbal expression--Errors of Mr. Morgan and Mr. McLennan--Conclusion--Note--‘Group marriage’

APPENDICES

A.--ENGLISH, ORCADIAN, AND HEBREW VILLAGE SOBRIQUETS

B.--THE BA RONGA TERMS OF RELATIONSHIP

INDEX

SOCIAL ORIGINS

AND

PRIMAL LAW