Anthropology
Study of cultures
Anthropology is the study of human beings—their origins, development, cultures, and societies.
The field encompasses physical anthropology (human biology and evolution), cultural anthropology (social practices and beliefs), archaeology (material remains), and linguistics.
An anthropologist might study ancient burial sites, contemporary kinship systems, or the rituals of corporate boardrooms.
She majored in anthropology.
Systematic study of peoples
- kinshipState of being related
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
taboo · folklore · symbolism · marriage · ceremony · belief · myth · rites
Species changing over generations
- hominidBipedal primate family
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
- primatologyScientific study of apes
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
cranium · bipedalism · morphology · genetics · Australopithecus · Neanderthal · paleoanthropology · osteology
System of symbolic communication
- dialectRegional language variety
- phonologyScience of language sounds
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
communication · syntax · pidgin · creole · bilingualism · speech · discourse · lexicon
One who provides intelligence
- immersionState of being submerged
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- MalinowskiPolish-British anthropologist, ethnography founder
- interviewFormal questioning session
ethnographer · rapport · reflexivity · thick description · field notes · site · research · longitudinal
Progress toward maturity
- policyAdopted principle of action
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
- NGOIndependent charitable organization
public · intervention · consulting · medical · corporate · forensic · museum · heritage
ethnography
Systematic study of peoples
- kinshipState of being related
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
traditions · taboo · folklore · symbolism · marriage · ceremony · belief · myth · rites · totemism
evolution
Species changing over generations
- hominidBipedal primate family
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
- primatologyScientific study of apes
skeleton · cranium · bipedalism · morphology · genetics · Australopithecus · Neanderthal · paleoanthropology · osteology · Lucy
language
System of symbolic communication
- dialectRegional language variety
- phonologyScience of language sounds
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
semantics · communication · syntax · pidgin · creole · bilingualism · speech · discourse · lexicon · sociolinguistics
informant
One who provides intelligence
- immersionState of being submerged
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- MalinowskiPolish-British anthropologist, ethnography founder
interview · ethnographer · rapport · reflexivity · thick description · field notes · site · research · longitudinal · qualitative
development
Progress toward maturity
- policyAdopted principle of action
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
NGO · public · intervention · consulting · medical · corporate · forensic · museum · heritage · repatriation
Anthropologyparochialism
Excessive local focus
ethnocentrism · microeconomics · specialization · reductionism
Anthropologyfuturology
Study of coming times
futurism · transhumanism · trend forecasting · speculative fiction · astrobiology
- cultural anthropologyStudy of human societies
- forensic anthropologySkeletal analysis for legal cases
- forensic anthropologistAnalyzes human remains for investigations
- social anthropologyAcademic study of cultures
anthropologist, anthropologists, anthropological, anthropologically