The circular semantic network in Ngbandi disease nosology

Abstract

This paper which relies very much on linguistics, proposes a circular semantic network as an original framework for organizing nosological terms used by the Angbandi of Zaire. Such a framework is presented as an alternative to ethnosemantist and structuralist classifications. Building on this new interpretation of Angbandi nosology, the paper presents in the last section the notions of iconicity and circularity as key features of Angbandi medical science.