Exam 1 Flashcards
Anthropology (Definition)
Study of human diversity across time and space.
Cultural Anthropology (Definition)
Study of human CULTURAL diversity across time and space.
Culture (Definition)
Learned (NOT inherited/instinctual) traditions and customs that govern your behavior and belief.
Linguistic Anthropology (Definition)
Study of human LANGUAGE diversity across time and space.
Code-switching (Definition)
When someone subconsciously switches their pattern of speech/accent/language to fit a situation, or because of who’s around.
Archaeology (Definition)
The study of human MATERIAL CULTURE across time and space.
Material Culture (Definition)
Things that are left behind other than bones, such as structures, tools, jewelry, ceramics, trash, etc.
Biological/Physical Anthropology (Definition)
The study of human PHYSICAL or BIOLOGICAL diversity across time and space.
Primatology (Definition)
The study of NON-HUMAN primates (chimpanzees, apes, ancient primates, etc).
Paleoanthropology (Definition)
The study of ANCIENT humans (including human ancestors + relatives).
Human Variation (Definition)
The variation among modern humans.
6 Sub-types of Human Variation
- Anthropometry
- Paleopathology
- Osteology
- Biocultural anthropology
- Human adaptability
- Forensic anthropology.
Human Variation: Anthropometry
The study of modern human measurements (anthropo = human, metry = measure).
Human Variation: Paleopathology
The study of ancient diseases.
Human Variation: Osteology
The study of the skeleton and bones.
Human Variation: Biocultural Anthropology
The study of how our cultural practices affect our biology.
Human Variation: Human Adaptability
How humans adapt, vary, and change in different environments.
Human Variation: Forensic Anthropology
The study of humans as relating to legal matters (forensic = the law).
Ethnography vs. Ethnology
Ethnography:
- Has one (1) O, studies one cultural group.
- has field-work and is descriptive
Ethnology:
- has two (2) Os, studies two or more cultural groups.
- uses other people’s data to make comparisons. not always field-work.
- cross-cultural
Non-controversial traits that define humans
- Bipedalism (walking on two legs with a certain gait)
- Non-honing canine (has smaller / less sharp canine tooth)
- Domestication (controlling the life/breeding cycles of plants and animals to use them)
CONTROVERSIAL traits that define humans
- Speech (ability to talk about things that aren’t currently happening)
- Material culture and tools
- Complex hunting (using tools + cooperative strategies with planning/forethought).
