article

Hocus pocus and extensionism in Central Malaya: notes on Semai kinship terminology

American Anthropologist72 (2) • Published In 1970 • Pages: 358-362

By: Dentan, Robert Knox.

Abstract
This paper presents a componential analysis of the kinship terminology of two groups of Senoi (Semai) studied by the author – termed eastern and western in this source. According to Dentan the eastern group were far less acculturated to the predominant Malay society than were the western Semai. A comparison of the terminology of the two groups, in light of Semai rules regarding proper terminological usage, seems to indicate several inconsistencies which suggest “…that a modified componential analysis conforms to the cognitive categories of the Semai if the extensionist hypothesis that terms have both primary and derived meaning is taken into account” (p. 358-A)." The exposition of this line of reasoning makes up the major bulk of this source.
Subjects
Cultural participation
Kinship terminology
culture
Semai
HRAF PubDate
2012
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 1989
Field Date
1962-1963
Coverage Date
1962-1963
Coverage Place
central Malay Peninsula
Notes
Robert Knox Dentan
Includes bibliographical references (p. 362)
LCCN
17015424
LCSH
Senoi (Southeast Asian people)