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Conceptual structure is constrained functionally, not formally. (Commentary on Jones, Doug: Human kinship, from conceptualstructure to grammar)

Richard Hudson

last changed 11 Jan 2011

Bibliographical information

Behavioral and Brain Sciences 33, 387-387 (2010)

Abstract

Kinship systems are best explained functionally, in terms of theconflicting needs of the society concerned, rather than in terms ofuniversal constraints, whether Optimality Theory or other; but OT isparticularly unsuitable as it rules out taxonomies. A conceptual analysisof kinship terminology shows, not that "grammar" extends to kinship,but that general cognition has the formal power to handle grammar.