article

Marriage, language, and history among eastern Tukanoan speaking peoples of the northwest Amazon

Latin American anthropology review • 1 (2) • Published In 1989 • Pages: 36-41

By: Chernela, Janet Marion.

Abstract

This paper examines two societies -- the Arapaso of Brazil and the Makuna of Colombia -- as examples of exceptions to the prevalent practice of linguistic exogamy among eastern Tukanoan populations, and explains these apparent anomalies as a response to the nation-state in the northwest Amazon (p. 36). In reference to the Makuna, Arhem attributes the exceptions to the rules of linguistic exogamy as the result of structural transformation; Goldman, on the other hand, accounts for the same phenomena among other eastern Tukanoan groups as 'historic change'. As a critique of Arhem's hypothesis Chernela '…argues that while the structural fluctuations described by Arhem delineate parameters of possibility, the changes in correspondence between language, identity and marriage practice can best be attributed to historic factors related to geopolitical integration' (p. 36).

HRAF PubDate

1998

Region

South America

Sub Region

Amazon and Orinoco

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 1996

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

Eastern Tukanoan Indians; Vaupés River area, Colombian-Brazilian border region

Notes

Janet Chernela

Includes bibliographical references (p. 40-41)

LCCN

89644837

LCSH

Tukano Indians