Book
Palauan social structure
Rutgers University Press • New Brunswick • Published In 1983 • Pages:
By: Smith, DeVerne Reed.
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This work presents an ethnographic description of the nature of Belau social organization. Smith's analysis indicates that structure and event are molded by the interaction of the core principles of descent, alliance and cross-siblingship. No one principle exists in isolation by itself, but instead each is interwoven with the others in such a way '...that at times one principle is set in opposition to another, while at other times two principles that once were in opposition at one level of contrast now complement each other in relation to the third principle' (p. 3). In this source then author investigates this synergistic interplay of structural principles in much detail presenting in the process a wealth of data on cross-siblingship, the exchange process, marriage, the 'first child' ceremony, adoption, kin structure, primarily of the matrilineal or patrilineal variety as viewed through 'child of the woman' and 'child of the man' transactions, and death (including 'final decisions' in the settlement of the affairs of the deceased in terms of lineage obligations.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Mythology
- Lineages
- Community structure
- Medium of exchange
- Adoption
- External relations
- Form and rules of government
- Chief executive
- Fishing
- Real property
- Land use
- Settlement patterns
- Visiting and hospitality
- Inter-community relations
- Moieties
- Status, role, and prestige
- Territorial hierarchy
- Ethnosociology
- Household
- Basis of marriage
- Siblings-in-law
- Kinship terminology
- Kin relationships
- Social placement
- Kindreds and ramages
- Child care
- Adolescent activities
- Spirits and gods
- Culture summary
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Belau
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2017
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Oceania
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Micronesia
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- John Beierle; 1989
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1972-1973
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 1970-1983
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Melekeok, Babeldaob Island; Koror, Republic of Belau
- NotesAdditional notes
- DeVerne Reed Smith
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 329-337)
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 81019987
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Palauans
- Kinship--Palau
- Palau--Social life and customs