CA VOCAB ( 1B )

100 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Ethnography and Fieldwork lecture notes.

Ethnography

The long-term study of a culture or society based on fieldwork.

Fieldwork

Immersive data collection in a real-world setting, often involving living among the community.

Culture

The shared beliefs, practices, and meanings of a group.

Society

A group of people who share a culture and live in a defined area.

Malinowski

An anthropologist called the father of ethnography; conducted fieldwork in the Trobriand Islands.

Trobriand Islands

Location in Papua New Guinea where Malinowski conducted early ethnographic fieldwork.

Imponderabilia of actual life

Phenomena that cannot be captured by documents or questioning; must be observed in life.

Native's point of view

Goal of ethnography to grasp how natives perceive life and their world.

Kula trade

A non-market exchange system studied by Malinowski among islanders.

Non-market economy

An economy not driven by market prices, focusing on social exchange.

Male exchange

A function of exchange involving men, often tied to risk and prestige in Kula.

Annette Weiner

Ethnographer who studied the Trobriand Islands in the 1970s, focusing on women.

Mortuary ceremony

Ritual connected to death and mourning.

Omarakana

A mortuary ceremony in which a mourning woman may shave her head and carry banana leaf bundles.

Mourning

Ritual practices surrounding death and bereavement.

Exchange

Transfer of goods or symbols as a social process and bond.

Fieldwork and Methods

The core approach and techniques used to gather ethnographic data.

Participant-observation

Living in and participating in community life to study culture.

Interviews

Face-to-face conversations with open-ended questions to learn about culture.

Life histories

Personal portraits or biographical narratives used to understand a life in a culture.

Genealogical method

Using diagrams to record kinship and family connections.

Cultural consultants

People who teach the ethnographer about their culture.

Informants

Individuals who provide information; also called cultural consultants.

Research participants

People who participate in research and share knowledge.

Kin connections

Relationships among relatives used in ethnographic analysis.

Kinship diagrams

Visual representations of family relationships and lineage.

Diagramming kin connections

The process of mapping kin relationships in a culture.

Longitudinal research

A long-term study with repeated visits over time.

Multi-site research

Ethnographic work conducted across several locations.

Team research

Coordinated ethnographic research conducted by multiple researchers.

Informed consent

Permission given by participants after being informed about the study.

Ethical problem-oriented

An ethnographic approach that centers on ethical issues or topics.

Activist anthropology

Anthropology that aims to advocate for social change or justice.

Engaged anthropology

Anthropology grounded in active involvement with communities.

Contemporary ethnography

Modern ethnographic practice incorporating reflexivity and activism.

Shrines

Sacred spaces or places in ritual life (as discussed in Nacirema).

Charm-boxes

Containers used in ritual life to hold magical objects (Nacirema context).

Holy-Mouth-Men

Ritual practitioners referenced in the Nacirema depiction.

Latipso temple

Healing temple described in the Nacirema tradition.

Reading critically

Careful evaluation of ethnographic descriptions and sources.

The Nacirema

A satirical portrayal of American ritual life to critique ethnocentrism.

The American

Reference to American culture as studied in the Nacirema text.

Make the familiar strange

A methodological aim to render everyday life understandings unfamiliar.

The Culture Concept

A framework for understanding culture, as discussed by Bodley.

Bodley

Author referenced for the Culture Concept in anthropology.

The Land of Open Graves

Book by Jason De León about migrants’ survival and death on the migrant trail.

Jason De León

Photographer/anthropologist and author of The Land of Open Graves.

The migrant trail

Pathway of migrants across borders studied in De León’s work.

Open Graves

Conceptual focus on graves and mortality in migrant contexts.

Evicted

Book by Matthew Desmond addressing eviction and housing insecurity.

Matthew Desmond

Author of Evicted; referenced in the slide material.

Soldiers and Kings

Another work referenced in relation to migrant or colonial studies.

The Nacirema ritual life

Part of the Nacirema portrayal describing ritual practices.

Cultural critique

Critical examination of cultural representations (as implied by Nacirema discussion).

Informants (revisited)

Individuals who provide information to ethnographers.

Cultural consultant (revisited)

People who teach the ethnographer about their culture.

Open-ended questions

Questions used in interviews that allow expansive responses.

Life history interview

An interview focused on a person’s life story and experiences.

Kinship as a method

Using kinship relations to understand social structure.

Ethical considerations

Moral issues encountered in conducting ethnographic research.

Field sites

Locations where ethnographic fieldwork is conducted.

Observation data

Data gathered through watching people in their natural settings.

Cultural systems

Integrated patterns of beliefs, practices, and social relationships.

Research ethics

Principles guiding respectful and responsible research with people.

Reflexivity

Awareness of how the researcher’s presence affects the study (implied in contemporary ethnography).

Ethnographic writing

Narrative and analytic presentation of field findings.

Data collection

The process of gathering information during fieldwork.

Data analysis in ethnography

Interpreting field notes, interviews, and artefacts to draw conclusions.

Fieldwork methods

The diverse techniques used to study cultures in the field.

Field notes

Recorded observations and reflections from fieldwork.

Participant role

The researcher's function within the community during study.

Social exchange

Reciprocal giving and receiving within a culture.

Cultural life portrait

A detailed depiction of daily life in a culture.

Relational ethnography

Studying cultures through networks of social relationships.

Ethnographic phenomena

Patterns and events observed in field settings.

Ethnographic subject

People or communities studied in ethnography.

Ethnographic fieldwork ethics

Moral principles guiding fieldwork conduct.

Cultural practices

Repeated activities that define a culture.

Ritual life

Structured, symbolic actions within a culture.

Social life

Everyday interactions and relationships within a community.

Participant observation practice

Active involvement in events to gain understanding.

Informant dialogue

Conversations with informants to learn about culture.

Cultural knowledge

Shared understandings learned through participation and teaching.

Research participants' voices

The perspectives and stories of those studied.

Ethnographic authority

Credibility gained through depth of fieldwork and immersion.

Cultural sensitivity

Awareness and respect for different cultural norms.

Mourning rituals

Cultural practices surrounding death and bereavement.

Trade networks

Systems of exchange and interaction beyond markets.

Prestige items

Objects exchanged for social status or honor.

Social bonds

Connections formed through shared practices and rituals.

Mortuary exchange

Social exchanges tied to death and mourning rituals.

Crop ceremonies

Rituals connected to agriculture and harvest (implicit in fieldwork contexts).