Ambrym Revisited: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Deacon reported, and it is widely accepted, that Ambrym "relationship terms" designate the categories of a system of 6 marriage classes formed by the intersection of 3 patrilines with a set of matrimoieties. It is shown here that this is completely false. The terminological system in question is nothing more than a simple system of kin classification which features certain unusual rules of terminological extension. Variants of these rules are found also on neighboring islands where they are superimposed on what are otherwise simple Crow-type systems of kin classification. Thus, the resemblances between these and most Australian kinship systems are only superficial.