Concise Dictionary of Social and Cultural Anthropology

CONCISE DICTIONARY OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

CONCISE DICTIONARY OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

“The Concise Dictionary of Social and Cultural Anthropology will provide invaluable assistance to anthropological researchers both old and new. It provides an authoritative single point of reference to the wide range of technical terms that professional anthropologists are expected to understand.”
David Zeitlyn, Oxford University

The Concise Dictionary of Social and Cultural Anthropology is an accessible, hands-on guide to the hundreds of terms the student of anthropology and the general reader will encounter in dealing with anthropological and ethnographic literature. It includes related terminology from allied fields such as sociology, economics, and geography.

The focus is on key concepts in anthropology, with a number of biographies included to identify influential figures who have formulated central theories and conducted the most famous field research within cultures around the world. Extensive bibliographical references provide pointers for further research. Anthropology is a relatively young discipline with a complex history. Anthropological research encompasses hundreds of cultures and provides a valuable perspective on an increasingly globalized world.

Written by a researcher and librarian expert in the fields of social and cultural anthropology, this Concise Dictionary offers an invaluable reference to the terminology and accomplishments of this far-reaching and diverse field. Acknowledgments viii

Introduction ix

List of Illustrations x

Concise Dictionary of Social and Cultural Anthropology 1

Major Sources 279

References 280

“Otherwise, this Concise Dictionary serves as a useful addition to collections of all levels and sizes. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers.” (Choice, 1 September 2012) Mike Morris is the anthropology subject consultant for Oxford University’s Bodleian Libraries. For over 20 years, he has also managed the library at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology in Oxford. The Concise Dictionary of Social and Cultural Anthropology is an accessible, hands-on guide to the hundreds of terms a student of anthropology or general reader will encounter in dealing with anthropological and ethnographic literature. It includes related terminology from allied fields such as sociology, economics and geography.

The focus is on key concepts in anthropology, with a number of biographies included to identify influential figures who have formulated central theories and conducted its most famous field research among other cultures around the world. Extensive bibliographical references provide pointers for further research.

Anthropology is a relatively young discipline with a complex history. Its research encompasses hundreds of cultures and provides a valuable perspective on an increasingly globalized world.

Written by a researcher and librarian expert in the fields of social and cultural anthropology, this Concise Dictionary offers an invaluable reference to the terminology and accomplishments of this far-reaching and diverse field.

“The Concise Dictionary of Social and Cultural Anthropology will provide invaluable assistance to anthropological researchers both old and new. It provides an authoritative single point of reference to the wide range of technical terms which professional anthropologists are expected to understand.”
- David Zeitlyn, Oxford University