CULTURAL SEMANTICS OF KINSHIP TERMS

Abstract

The kinship terminology system stands as one of the most genetically integrated word groups which exists in every language because it expresses both biological ties and social relationships together with cultural beliefs and mental classifications that differ among language groups. The research investigates theoretical frameworks from ethnolinguistics and cognitive semantics and anthropological linguistics to show that kinship terms function as cultural artifacts which preserve and transmit social organization principles and gender roles and hierarchical structures and collective identity markers.