Subfields of Anthropology

8/19 ANTH Notes

What are the major subfields of anthropology?

The major subfields are ethnology, linguistic , archaeology, biological/physical , and human evolutionary ecology.

What is ethnology?

Ethnology, also called social/cultural anthropology, is the study of living human groups and their cultures, behaviors, and ways of life.

What is ethnography?

Ethnography is a description of a living human group based on observations made during fieldwork.

What is ethnographic analogy?

Ethnographic analogy is the use of observations about living human groups to help interpret how people may have behaved or lived in the ancient past.

What is linguistic anthropology?

Linguistic anthropology is the anthropological study of human language and how language relates to human societies and behavior.

What does historical linguistics study?

Historical linguistics studies how languages change over time.

What does sociolinguistics study?

Sociolinguistics studies how language is used to negotiate or manipulate social interactions between people.

What is archaeology?

Archaeology is the study of past human behavior, primarily through physical evidence such as artifacts and archaeological sites.

How is archaeology different from paleontology?

Archaeology focuses on past human behavior and human-created or human-associated evidence, while paleontology studies the remains of plants and animals.

What is biological (physical) anthropology?

Biological, or physical, anthropology studies the evolutionary emergence of primates and human ancestors, as well as biological variation among humans.

What is forensic anthropology?

Forensic anthropology is an application of biological anthropology that uses human remains to help identify people, including victims.

What is primatology?

Primatology is the study of primates.

What is human evolutionary ecology?

Human evolutionary ecology studies how ecology and evolution influence human behavior.

What is a major methodological emphasis in human evolutionary ecology?

A major emphasis is developing and testing hypotheses about how ecological and evolutionary factors influence human behavior.

What are some ways anthropology can serve under-represented groups?

Anthropology can advocate for under-represented groups by supporting land claims, protecting resources, and helping establish tribal identity for legal purposes.

Why is fieldwork important to ethnology?

Fieldwork allows anthropologists to directly observe and interact with living people, providing firsthand information about their behaviors, social relationships, and ways of life.

Which anthropological subfield studies cultural change over thousands of years?

Archaeology, because it focuses on past human behavior and long-term cultural change, often over thousands of years.

Which anthropological subfield studies why humans vary biologically?

Biological (physical) anthropology, because it studies why humans vary biologically and how that variation developed.

Which anthropological subfield studies how language changes over time?

Historical linguistics, a branch of linguistic anthropology that studies how languages change over time.

Which anthropological subfield studies how language is used in social interactions?

Sociolinguistics, which studies how language is used to negotiate or manipulate social interactions.

Which anthropological field studies the remains of plants and animals?

Paleontology, which studies the remains of plants and animals from the past.

Which anthropological field studies primates?

Primatology, which is the study of primates and an area within biological anthropology.

What is the difference between ethnography and ethnology?

Ethnography focuses on describing a particular living group based on field observations, while ethnology is the broader study of living groups and their cultures.

How can ethnographic analogy help archaeologists?

Ethnographic analogy allows archaeologists to use observations of modern living groups to help interpret how people may have lived or behaved in the ancient past.

How can anthropology contribute to land claims?

Anthropological research can provide evidence and documentation supporting the historical, cultural, or social connections of under-represented groups to particular lands.

How can anthropology help establish tribal identity?

Anthropological research can document cultural, historical, social, and ancestral connections that may help establish or support tribal identity for legal purposes.

A researcher studies pottery, tools, and an ancient settlement. Which subfield is this?

Archaeology, because archaeology studies past human behavior through artifacts, sites, and other physical evidence.

A researcher studies chimpanzees and gorillas to understand primate evolution. What area is this?

Primatology, the study of primates, which is an area within biological anthropology.

A researcher studies how environmental conditions influence human behavior and tests a hypothesis. Which focus is this?

Human evolutionary ecology, which examines how ecology and evolution influence human behavior and emphasizes developing and testing hypotheses.