The logic of kinship terms in Rawang

THE LOGIC OF KINSHIP TERMS IN RAWANG

Nathan Straub

Payap University

SEALS 2015

OUTLINE

1. Intro

2. Language & area

3. Problem & methodology

4. Names & affixes

5. Kinship terms

6. Kinship typology

7. Marriage patterns

8. Conclusion

LANGUAGE AND AREA

LANGUAGE

Nungish branch of Tibeto-Burman "Rawang" and "Anung" in Kachin State, Myanmar (145,000 people)

"Dulong" and "Nu" in northwest Yunnan, China (14,000 people)

(Population estimates from Bradley 2011:72)

Agglutinating, SOV

Suggestions for macro-grouping: Separate branch/leaf (Cui 2009; van Driem 2014)

Central TB (Bradley 2007a)

Rung (Thurgood & LaPolla 2003)

Jingpho-Nungish-Luish (Matisoff 2003); possibly the same branch with Jingpho (Sun 1982)

Contact relationship with Jingpho; distantly related to Burmic (Matisoff 2013)

Rung subgroup of Burmic group (DeLancey 2009)

RAWANG ORTHOGRAPHY

g Vowels:

i [ɨ] <ø> u

e [ə] <v> o

a

Consonants: bilab alv alv-pal vel glot

stop vl p t k ʔ <q>

vd b d g

fricative vl s ɕ <sh> h

vd z

affricate vl (ts <c>) tɕ <ch>

vd dʑ <j>

nasal m n (ɲ <ny>) ŋ <ng>

rhot ɹ <r>

lat l

approx w j <y>

Initial /p, t, k/ are aspirated.Finals: /p, t, k, ʔ, m, n, ŋ, r, l, (w), j/.

Tones: 1. a (high)2. a (mid)3. a (low; falling in some dialects)4. neutral tone5. killed tone (high)

/z/ is pronounced [dz] in some dialects.

/ts/ is merged with /s/ in Mvtwang.

[ɲ] appears before /i/ in some dialects.

NE India

Tibet

Yunnan

Myanmar

N. Dulong

C. DulongNujiang

S. Dulong

Dvngsar

Mvtwang

Waqdamkong

RvmølDvru

Zewang

Lungmi

Mixed

(Mvtwang)

AnongAnung

Mixed

(Dvru, Dvngsar)

Dialect map

(based on personal interviews, various

maps, Bradley 2007a, and

http://www.tibeto-burman.net/rda/)

NE India

Tibet

Yunnan

Myanmar

N. Dulong

C. DulongNujiang

S. Dulong

Dvngsar

Mvtwang

Waqdamkong

RvmølDvru

Zewang

Lungmi

Mixed

(Mvtwang)

AnongAnung

Outside influences

Tibetan

Khamti Shan

Lisu

Jingpho

(also Burmese, Chinese,

Lhaovo/Maru,

Bai, Nusu, etc.)

Mixed

(Dvru, Dvngsar)

PROBLEM AND METHODOLOGY

PROBLEM

Kinship terms with overlap

Aunt = stepmother

Uncle = stepfather

Aunt = mother-in-law

Uncle = father-in-law

STEDT

OBJECTIVE

To explain the emic equivalence of etically separate categories in Rawang kinship

METHODOLOGY

1. Collecting Nungish kin terms from published wordlists

2. Organizing them by etic factors (generation, kin relation, sex) and emic factors (form equivalency)

3. Conducting interviews with Rawang speakers

Kinship term questionnaire [What is your father's sister's name? What do you call her?]

Family tree diagramming interview

4. Cross-checking and asking followup questions

5. Consolidating terms and their referents for each dialect

6. Doing cross-dialect comparison

NE India

Tibet

Yunnan

Myanmar

N. Dulong

C. DulongNujiang

S. Dulong

Dvngsar

Mvtwang

Waqdamkong

RvmølDvru

Zewang

Lungmi

Mixed

(Mvtwang)

AnongAnung

Mixed

(Dvru, Dvngsar)

DATA

Literature: Mvtwang (1) (LaPolla 2003)

Waqdamkong (2) (Barnard 1934; Shintani 2014)

Dulong (3)

Central & Nujiang (Sun 1982)

North (Gros 2005)

Kinship term questionnaire: Mvtwang (1)

Waqdamkong (1)

Dvngsar (1)

Family tree interviews: Mvtwang (1)

Rvmøl: (2)

SCOPE

Focusing mainly on Mvtwang

Notes on agreement or contrast with other dialects

Not focusing on other languages in the area

Interviews took place in Thailand

NAMES AND AFFIXES

RAWANG NAMES

[Clan + Name], e.g. Yintvng Dø

Clan names:

Patrilineal, not transferred at marriage

Names

Birth order and gender

Up to 7 for each gender in Rvmøl dialect, with nicknames after that

Last child: Tang...

Bible names or foreign names: David /dawit/, Bill...

Lucky days: Zidasvr (new moon), Zidarvm (full moon)

BIRTH ORDER NAMES(COMBINED DATA FROM MVTWANG, SINWAL, WAQDAMKONG, RVMØL, DULONG, ANUNG, AND ANONG)

1st son pung, pong2nd son dø, tin, kin, chin3rd son ken, kin, kwin, kwi, kwen, jong, jung4th son søn, shin, cen, cøn, ko, do5th son møn, min, nøn, zeng, zing, ten, gung, ge

6th son pi, pøy, guq7th son yung, yong, jongla, kaq8th son ray, tvron, yøn9th son to, bangnam, tvkvm, tangLast son yin, tinaq, tang

1st daughter nvng, nang2nd daughter nin, nen, nyin, nyen, nyi, nyi3rd daughter chvng, chang, ko4th daughter ti, nøn, cin, kø, duna, du, du, yin

5th daughter kur, ku, cin, gong, chineng6th daughter gøn, gin, gong, danggang, chø, tam, tvng

7th daughter tam, tam, ti, gin8th daughter nay, ray, ikuq, tam, yøn9th daughter NongLast daughter yin, tinaq, tang

Nickname

Name for last child

AFFIXES/CLITICS

Prefixes/proclitics

Vocative/my v-: Vnang '1st daughter'

Abstract/3sg ang-: angshvngpe 'son-in-law'

Possessive nga- (1sg), nv- (2sg), ing- (1pl), angning (3pl)... (Rvmøl)

Suffixes/enclitics

Added to names: -ram (add/junior), -sar (new), -zi (small)

Added to kinship terms: gender markers -pe (male), -me (female)

Part of nouns or kinship terms: -ra/re 'CLF.person': svma-re 'woman/wife-CLF.person'

TITLES AND NAMES

[kin.term + name]

vnvm nvng 'sibling Nang(1st.daughter)'

ing nvng 'our Nang'

vla pung 'cousin Pung(1st.son)'

[title (+clan) + name]

Svra Mvna Anderu 'Teacher Andrew Mana'

Pe Vwiwang Pong 'Mr. Pong Awiqwang'

Me Chvngshvshvrrvm 'Mrs...'

Vshaqme Zungwi Ninbe 'Elder-female...'

GOING UP THE FAMILY TREE...

+1 GENERATION (PARENTS)

Father

vpe (Mvtwang, WDK1934, WDK2014, Rvmøl, N.Dulong)

vpvy (C.Dulong, Nujiang)

vba (Dvngsar, Nujiang, Lisu)

GMm (male gender marker/classifier for humans)

pe (Mvtwang, Rvmøl); pvy (Dvngsar)

Mother

vme (Mvtwang, WDK1934, WDK2014, Rvmøl, N.Dulong)

vmvy (C.Dulong, Nujiang)

vma (Dvngsar, Nujiang, Lisu)

GMf (female gender marker/classifier for humans)

me (Mvtwang, Rvmøl); mvy (Dvngsar)

+2 GENERATION (GRANDPARENTS)

Grandfather

(any male relative of the +2 generation)

vkang (Mvtwang, WDK1934, WDK2014, Rvmøl, Dvngsar, N.Dulong, C.Dulong, Nujiang)

sounds like:

vka ng(pe)/angkang(pe) 'lord/master/host')

(v)ka ng 'tiger'

Grandmother

(any female relative of the +2 generation)

vsi (Mvtwang, WDK1934)

vci (Rvmøl, WDK2014, N.Dulong, Nujiang)

vpi (Dvngsar, Dvru, Rvmøl); vpi (C.Dulong)

+3... GENERATION (GREAT-GRANDPARENTS)

Great-grandfather

(any male relative of the +3 generation)

vkang kop (Mvtwang); vkop (Mvtwang, Rvmøl)

vdø ng (Zewang); vka ng dø ng (Zewang)

Great-grandmother

(any female relative of the +3 generation)

vsi kop (Mvtwang)

vpi kop (Dvngsar)

vdøng(?) (Rvmøl)

Note: Confusion about vdøng in Rvmøl:

displacement by Mvtwang terms

not many +3 generation relatives still living

+4... GENERATION (GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS...)

Great-great-grandparent

Vdøng kop(?) (Rvmøl)

Ancestors

angkop angkang (Mvtwang)

angsi angkang / ading akang (WDK1934)

GOING DOWN THE FAMILY TREE...

-1 GENERATION (CHILD)

Child

Se /ce ; angse me 'daughter' (Mvtwang)

Sel; nangla sel 'son'; chumma sel / svma sel / zami 'daughter' (WDK1934)

Car (WDK2014)

Cvl (Dvru, Rvmøl); a ngcvlme (daughter) (Rvmøl)

(also means 'small', 'human')

Step-child (same as 'child')

Adopted child

Dvkong car / dvko mshi car (WDK2014)

-2... GENERATION (GRANDCHILD...)

Grandchild (any relative of the -2 generation)

Pvli (Mvtwang); pvli (WDK1934); pli (WDK2014); pvli (Rvmøl); pvli (C.Dulong, Nujiang)

Great-grandchild (any relative of the -3 generation)

Pvlaq (Rvmøl, Dvngsar)

Descendant

Pvli pvlaq (Mvtwang, WDK1934)

Abraham pvlí pvlaq Dawi ang pvlí pvlaq Yesu Kristu dvcì gùn we shìpan kàru.

"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1)

SPREADING OUT (SIBLINGS & SPOUSES)

0 GENERATION (SIBLING)

Sibling

vnvm ( = parallel cousin) (Mvtwang, WDK2014, Rvmøl...)

ingra (our+CLF) (Dvru)

vyongra (N.Dulong)

ing-[name] ('our') (Rvmøl)

angning-[name] ('their') (Rvmøl)

Note: Mvtwang normally uses birth order names instead of vnvm when referring to real siblings.

Dvru and Rvmøl prefix birth order names with ing- 'our' when referring to real siblings.

Brother

vwu (Dvngsar; = 'big one' > 'elder brother' in Lisu)

Elder sibling

nvm vlat (Mvtwang, WDK1934)

Younger sibling

pang vram (Mvtwang, WDK1934)

0 GENERATION (SPOUSE)

HusbandHouse+GMm chømpe (house+male) (Rvmøl, Mvtwang);

chømpvy (Dvngsar); chumpe (WDK1934)

Man lv ngla (man) (C.Dulong, Nujiang)

na nggacar (man+human) (WDK2014; rare)

Other angyoqpe (PREF+CLF.person+male) (Nujiang)

vsel angpe (son PREF+male) ("my child's father") (WDK1934)

Wife

House+GMf

chømme (house+female) (Rvmøl, Mvtwang); chvmme (WDK2014); chømmvy (Dvngsar)

Woman

pvma (C.Dulong); puma (N.Dulong)

svma (WDK1934); angsvma me (PREF+woman+female) (Nujiang)

Other

vsel angme ("my child's mother") (WDK1934)

angmvt (Nujiang; = (elder) brother's wife)

mvzingme 'chief wife' (WDK1934); mvle me'lesser wife' (WDK1934)

EXTENDED FAMILY

+1 GENERATION (PARALLEL UNCLE/AUNT)

Parallel uncle; stepfather

Parallel uncle, parallel aunt's husband, stepfather

any male relative of the parent's generation who is related via a pair of same-sex siblings

vwvng (Mvtwang); vwang (WDK1934, WDK2014)

Parallel aunt/stepmother

sø me / vsø m / vcø m / vsvm: parallel aunt, parallel uncle's wife, stepmother

any female relative of the parent's generation who is related via a pair of same-sex siblings

vcø m (Rvmøl)

vcim (WDK1934)

vcvm (WDK2014)

WHY ARE PARALLEL AUNTS/UNCLES AND STEP-PARENTS THE SAME?

Levirate marriage: If a man's brother dies, he is expected to marry his brother's wife and take care of her children (although marriage is optional).

He would be both parallel uncle and step-father to her children.

Sororate marriage: If a woman's sister dies, she is expected to marry her sister's husband and take care of his children (although marriage is optional).

She would be both parallel aunt and stepmother to his children.

+1 GENERATION (CROSS AUNT/UNCLE, IN-LAWS)

Cross uncle; father-in-law

mother's brother, father's sister's husband = spouse's father

Vkø (Mvtwang, WDK2014, Rvmøl, Dvngsar, N.Dulong, C.Dulong, Nujiang)

Cross aunt; mother-in-law

father's sister, mother's brother's wife = spouse's mother

Vni (Mvtwang, WDK2014, N.Dulong, C.Dulong)

Vnyi (Rvmøl, Dvngsar, Nujiang)

WHY ARE CROSS AUNTS/UNCLES AND IN-LAWS THE SAME?

Preferred choice for a wife = mother's brother's daughter (cross-cousin).

Preferred choice for a husband = father's sister's son (cross-cousin).

Your father-in-law would often be your actual cross uncle, and your mother-in-law would often be your actual cross aunt.

0 GENERATION (COUSIN)

Parallel cousin

Vnvm ( = sibling) (Mvtwang, WDK1934, WDK2014, Rvmøl)

Cross cousin

Vla (= sibling-in-law) (Mvtwang, WDK2014, Rvmøl)

Vla cvra (either sex) (WDK2014)

Vmet vla (male ego: female cross cousin) (N.Dulong)

Mvyøq (lvp) angla ('mother's-side cross-cousin') (WDK2014)

Male ego: mother's brother's daughter; suitable marriage partner

Anomalies

Any cousin: pvli (Dvngsar; = grandchild)

0 GENERATION (SIBLING-IN-LAW)

Vla (any sibling-in-law; = cross cousin)

(Used more in central dialects and standard Mvtwang)

Vmvt (Dvru, Rvmøl, Dvngsar); angmvt (Mvtwang, C.Dulong; = 'wife' in Nujiang); vmet (N.Dulong)

(Used more in northern dialects)

Male ego: brother's wife (Dvru)

Elder brother's wife (Mvtwang, C.Dulong, Dvngsar)

Brother's wife, wife's sister, father's sister's daughter (cross cousin) (N.Dulong)

Female ego: husband's brother (Rvmøl)

(potential spouse if the man's elder brother dies, according to levirate marriage customs)

-1 GENERATION (PARALLEL NIECE/NEPHEW)

bvdu (Mvtwang, WDK2014); bvdu (Nujiang); pvdu (Rvmøl, N.Dulong); pvdu (C.Dulong)

Male ego: brother's child; wife's sister's child

Female ego: sister's child; husband's brother's child

Note: if your bvdu is orphaned, it is your responsibility to take care of them and find them a spouse.

-1 GENERATION (CROSS NIECE/NEPHEW/CHILD-IN-LAW)

Vshvng (Mvtwang); vsvng (Rvmøl, WDK2014); angsan (WDK2014); vsang (WDK1934, N.Dulong)

Male ego: sister's child; wife's brother's child; child's spouse

Femal ego: brother's child; husband's sister's child; child's spouse

Anomalies:

Brother's daughter

Vsvng (C.Dulong)

Any niece/nephew related by blood

Bvdu (Dvngsar)

PARALLEL/CROSS-RELATIVE GROUPINGS

Generation Category Parallel Cross

+1 Uncle vwv ng

(=stepfather)

vkø

(=father-in-law)

+1 Aunt vcø m

(=stepmother)

vni

(=mother-in-law)

0 Cousin vnvm

(=sibling)

vla

(=sibling-in-law)

-1 Niece/nephew bvdu vshvng

(=child-in-law)

KINSHIP TYPOLOGY

KINSHIP SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Kinship_Systems.svg

parallel parallelcross cross

IROQUOIS SYSTEM

Key features:

No merging of categories across

generations

Distinction between cross and parallel

relatives

RAWANG/IROQUOIS SYSTEM

vme vpe vwvngvcø mvkø vni

vla vla vla vla vnvm vnvm vnvm vnvm vnvm vnvm

RAWANG SYSTEM (UPPER GENERATIONS)

RAWANG SYSTEM (LOWER GENERATIONS, MALE EGO)

RAWANG SYSTEM (LOWER GENERATIONS, FEMALE EGO)

MARRIAGE PATTERNS

CLAN MARRIAGE PATTERNSHusband clan (bride-taking) Wife clan (bride-giving)

Waqdamkong Dvngshing

Pongzi

Tøngka ng

Sangdong

Yintvng Waqdamkong

Pungbør

Mvna

Nvnghø

Nvnghø Mvgaltaq

Pungbør Waqdamkong

Ngvtzu

Rvmvynvm Yintvng

Yongngai Pungbør

Mvpa ngchvng

Røngdvm Pungbør

Chvn Cho ngdvm

Waqdamkong

Mvna Ko ngla ng

MARRIAGE PARTNERS (FOR A MALE)

Yes:

Vla/vmvt

Mother's brother's daughter

Brother's widow

(For a female: father's sister's son

Sister's widower)

From a clan that normally gives brides to your clan

From a distant clan

From another ethnic group

No:

Father's-side relatives

Father's sister's daughter

(Should be 3-4 generations removed from the father's line, so no birth defects)

Same clan name

Some flexibility now

In the past, led to name changes

CONCLUSION

UPSHOT

"Overlapping" terms (emic equivalence of etically different categories) can be explained by: Cross-cousin marriage

Levirate and sororate marriage

My limited data suggest that Rawang follows the Iroquois pattern. "The Rawang kinship system seems originally to have been...of the Iroquois type, in which cross cousins

are referred to by the same term... Though the northern Rawang groups do have the Iroquois system, the middle and southern Rawang kinship systems exhibit some characteristics of the Omaha type. This might be a result of the influence of the Jinghpaws..." (Sarep 1996:95)

Some conflicting data for Rvmøl and especially Dvngsar.

Some northern terms falling out of use (vdøng 'great-grandparent' vs. vkop) and others have parallel/specialized use (vmvt 'husband's brother/wife's sister' vs. vla )

SOURCES (WITH THANKS)

Mvtwang: LaPolla 2003; David Saenmee, Yintvng Dø, Dvngshing Nvng, and others (p.c.)

Waqdamkong: WDK1934 (Barnard 1934); WDK2014 (Shintani 2014; Joseph Sinwal (p.c.))

Sinwal: Sarep 1996 (a Waqdamkong clan)

Rvmøl: Chømgunggang Dø, Chømgunggang Chang and Chicvlwang Ninsar (p.c.)

Dvru: Jerry Awiqwang and Malong Pung (p.c.)

Dvngsar: Peter Chinlai (p.c.)

N.Dulong: Gros 2005; LaPolla 2001 (Northern Dulong = 1st Township)

C.Dulong: Sun 1982 (Central Dulong = 3rd Township)

Nujiang: Sun 1982

Anung & Anong: Bradley 2007b

Lisu: Leung Wailing and Nawsawu (p.c.)

FACULTY ADVISORS (WITH THANKS)

Aj. Doug Fraiser, PhD

Aj. Elissa Ikeda, PhD

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THANK YOU!Ninsar (friend) Achang

(ego)

Anang (angcvlme )Anin

(angme )