NCSU ANT 252 - Midterm Exam 1

anthropology

The holistic study of humankind, including people and the structures of power

It requires consideration of human biology AND culture (and also the environment). Biology and culture influence each other.

How does anthropology differ from other natural and social sciences?

People and their local communities

What do anthropologists' perspectives start with?

ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's own culture

cultural relativism

Understanding other cultures in their own terms; necessary for cross-cultural research.

ethnographic fieldwork

A primary research strategy in cultural anthropology involving living with a community of people over an extended period to better understand their lives

four-field approach

The use of four interrelated disciplines to study humanity: biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology.

holism

Approach that considers all aspects of a culture

archaeology

Study of past human cultures through material remains

biological (physical) anthropology

Study of human biological evolution and variation

cultural anthropology

Study of human society and culture; seeks to explain social and cultural similarities/differences

linguistic anthropology

Study of language in its social and cultural context

ethnography

The method by which researchers attempt to understand a group or culture by observing it from the inside, without imposing any preconceived notions they might have

ethnology

The analysis and comparison of ethnographic data across cultures

participant observation

A key anthropological research strategy involving both participation in and observation of the daily life of the people being studied

globalization

Process of increasing interconnectedness and interdependence among societies as technology advances

Led to changes in research strategies. Many ethnographic projects are multi-sited and engage both virtual and physical communities.

How has globalization changed anthropology?

time-space compression

Reduction in the time and distance between places due to technology

flexible accumulation

Business strategies focusing on adaptability and innovation to respond quickly to changing market conditions (e.g., outsourcing, offshoring)

Anthropocene

Proposed geological epoch characterized by human impact on the environment

Body Ritual among the Nacirema (Horace Miner)

Satirical article criticizing ethnocentrism in anthropology

Number Our Days (Barbara Myerhoff)

Ethnography about the experiences of elderly Jewish individuals; marked the turn to "home" (considering one's own experiences)

Franz Boas

Father of modern American anthropology; argued for cultural relativism and historical particularism (Shackles of Tradition)

culture

Shared knowledge, beliefs, values, and practices of a group of people

enculturation

The process of learning culture

norms

Shared rules and expectations for behavior

values

Cultural ideals and principles about what is important, true, right, etc.

symbol

An object or word that represents something else

mental maps of reality

Cultural frameworks that shape perception and understanding

unilinear cultural evolution

19th century theory that cultures evolve from simple to complex

society

A community of people who share a common culture

historical particularism (American)

The idea that cultures develop in specific ways because of their unique histories (Boas)

structural functionalism (British)

The idea that each element of society serves a particular function to keep the entire system in equilibrium

interpretivist approach (Geertz)

a conceptual framework that sees culture primarily as a symbolic system of deep meaning

thick description

A research strategy that combines detailed description of cultural activity with an analysis of its deeper cultural meaning

power

The ability or potential to bring about change through action or influence

stratification

The uneven distribution of resources and privileges among participants in a group or culture

hegemony

Dominance of one group over others through consent and coercion

agency

Individual's ability to make choices and take action

habitus (Pierre Bourdieu)

Our specific subcultures are written into our bodies and speech through a nonverbal process of observation and imitation; reveal our class and cultural backgrounds

cultural capital (Bourdieu)

The knowledge, habits, and tastes learned from parents and family that individuals can use to gain access to scarce and valuable resources in society

Bronislaw Malinowski

Invented practice of extended ethnographic fieldwork and participant observation; structural functionalism

Margaret Mead

A "public anthropologist" and student of Franz Boas; wrote Coming of Age in Samoa

Clifford Geertz

Focused on symbolic anthropology and meaning; pioneered "interprevist" approach; advocated method of "thick description"

Evans-Pritchard

British social anthropologist; conducted fieldwork in Africa during the height of British colonialism

Sidney Mintz and Eric Wolf

Pioneered the turn to the "global" in anthropology

Annette Weiner

Anthropologist who focused on feminism and reflexivity

Nancy Scheper-Hughes

Pioneered "engaged" anthropology, emphasizing active involvement and advocacy

ethnographic fieldwork methods

Participant observation, key informants, mapping, build environment, kinship analysis, social network analysis, interviews, life history, etc.

emic vs. etic perspective

The perspective of the insider vs. the perspective of the outside observer

polyvocality

Incorporating multiple voices and perspectives in research

reflexivity

Critical self-reflection by researchers on their own biases and assumptions

informed consent

Permission obtained from research participants after providing them with information about the study

quantitative data

Numerical data, such as surveys and statistics

qualitative data

Non-numerical data, such as interviews and observations

survey

Collection of data from a sample of individuals

zeros

Missing or incomplete data

key informants

Individuals who have intimate knowledge of a subject and are willing to share it with the researcher

salvage ethnography

Preservation of cultures threatened by modernization

rapport

Establishing a relationship of trust and understanding with research participants

life history

In-depth study of an individual's life experiences

kinship analysis

Study of social relationships based on family ties

social network analysis

Study of social relationships and their patterns

built environment

Human-made structures and spaces

Involves immersive, long-term engagement with a community to understand their culture from an insider's perspective.

What is unique about ethnographic fieldwork, and why do anthropologists conduct this kind of research?

AAA Ethical Guidelines

1. do no harm

2. be open and honest about your work

3. obtain informed consent and necessary permissions

4. weigh competing ethical observations

5. make results accessible

6. protect and preserve your records

7. maintain ethical and respectful professional relationships

historical linguistics

The study of the development of language over time, including its changes and variations (language families, dead languages, etc.)

speech community

A group of people who share a set of norms and expectations regarding the use of language

descriptive linguistics

Study of the structure and use of language

grammar

Rules for combining words and forming sentences

lexicon

Vocabulary of a language

kinesics

Study of body movements and gestures as a form of communication

paralanguage

Non-verbal vocal cues, such as tone and pitch

linguistic relativity/Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

The idea that language shapes thought and perception (e.g., masculine or feminine word for bridge)

speech registers (focal vocabulary)

Varieties of language used in different social contexts (e.g., snow for Inuit)

sociolinguistics

Study of language in its social context

dialect

A form of language spoken by people in a particular region or group; the one spoken by the most powerful group is usually deemed "correct"

prestige language

Language associated with high social status

language ideology

Beliefs and attitudes about language

code-switching

Switching from between languages, dialects, or speech styles in different contexts

symbolic domination

Use of language to assert power and control (e.g., My Fair Lady)

Shakespeare in the Bush (Laura Bohannan)

Article about the challenges of translating Hamlet for the Tiv people; concludes that cultural literature/mythology provides values and theories about the world

Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race (Jared Diamond)

Explains the negative impacts of the Neolithic Revolution on human health and inequality

Warfare is Only an Invention (Margaret Mead)

War is a social and cultural construction; it is not a cultural universal

Main points of The Weeping Camel

Film about the lives of nomadic pastoralists who are also deeply engaged in trade (as almost all pastoralists/herders are)

"American Tongues" video clip

People judge each other by accent; negative connotations of the Southern accent in mainstream U.S. culture

To Give Up On Words (Basso) he speaker's relationship to the people present; proper respect and hierarchy are very important; if there is any uncertainty about the relationship, silence is best

Article about silence in Western Apache culture; the speaker's relationship to the people present (hierarchy) is the critical factor in an Apache's decision to speak or keep silent (showing respect)

salvage linguistics

Efforts to preserve threatened languages (1/2 of remaining 7000 languages)

economy

System of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services; it is a human cultural adaptation

food foragers

Humans who subsist by hunting, fishing, and gathering. The only way that human beings made a living between the emergence of our species roughly 200,000 years ago and 12,000 years ago.

Associated with band form of political organization and generalized reciprocity.

egalitarian society

Society with equal access to resources and opportunities

pastoralism

A nomadic or transhumant form of making a living centered on raising herd animals but that always includes either trade or small-scale cultivation on the side, or both

Associated with tribal form of political regulation and balanced reciprocity; characterized by geographic mobility.

horticulture

A simple, rain-dependent form of crop cultivation, usually employing "slash and burn" technique that requires the opening of new fields or plots every 2-3 years.

Associated with tribal form of political regulation and balanced reciprocity.

agriculture

A relatively intensive form of crop cultivation that is indicated by the use of plows and draft animals and other agricultural technologies such as irrigation systems and terracing.

Associated with chiefdom form of political regulation, redistribution, and centralized control.

carrying capacity

Maximum number of individuals an environment can support

reciprocity

Exchange of goods and services between individuals or groups

generalized reciprocity

Giving and receiving goods with no immediate or specific return expected

balanced reciprocity

A mode of exchange in which the giving and the receiving are specific as to the value of the goods and the time of their delivery

redistribution

Collection and distribution of resources by a central authority

market principle

Exchange of goods and services based on supply and demand and standardized values