What are kinship terminologies, and why do we care? A computational approach to analyzing symbolic domains

Read, Dwight, Leaf, Murray J., Fischer, Michael D. (2013) What are kinship terminologies, and why do we care? A computational approach to analyzing symbolic domains. Social Science Computer Review, 31 (1). pp. 16-44. ISSN 0894-4393. E-ISSN 1552-8286. (doi:10.1177/0894439312455914) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided)

Abstract

Kinship is a fundamental feature and basis of human societies. We describe a set of computational tools and services, and the logic that underlies these, developed to improve how we understand both the fundamental facts of kinship and how people use kinship as a resource in their lives. Mathematical formalism applied to cultural concepts is more than an exercise in model building, as it provides a way to represent and explore their logical consistency and implications. Not surprisingly, kinship terminologies are particularly amenable to formal representation. Researchers throughout the history of kinship studies have noted the logicality of kinship terminology systems. The logic is explored here through the kin term computations made by users of a terminology when computing the kinship relation one person has to another by referring to a third person for whom each has a kin term relationship. Kinship Algebra Modeler provides a set of tools, services, and an architecture to explore kinship terminologies and their properties in an accessible manner.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1177/0894439312455914
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions:	Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > Social and Cultural Anthropology
Depositing User:	Michael Fischer
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2015 11:25 UTC
Last Modified:	29 May 2019 14:00 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/46391 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)