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Why do we need to coordinate when classifying kin?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2010

Drew Gerkey
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology & Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1414. agerkey@eden.rutgers.edulcronk@anthropology.rutgers.eduanthro.rutgers.edu
Lee Cronk
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology & Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1414. agerkey@eden.rutgers.edulcronk@anthropology.rutgers.eduanthro.rutgers.edu

Abstract

We suggest that there are two coordination games when it comes to understanding kin terminology. Jones' article focuses on the linguistic coordination inherent in developing meaningful kin terminologies, alluding briefly to the benefits of these kin terminologies for coordination in other domains. We enhance Jones' discussion by tracing the links between the structure of kin terminologies and their functions.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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