Structural Patterns of Sibling Classification in Island Oceania: Implications for Culture History [and Comments and Replies]

Abstract

The underlying structure of discriminations in the classification of siblings has received considerable attention. Prior research has demonstrated the tendency of patterns of sibling classification to persist, often for thousands of years, in groups of societies that speak related languages. In this paper it is shown that a sample of 223 societies from Island Oceania exhibits 11 structural types of sibling classification linked in a developmental chain. Some of these types are rare and highly localized; others are common and regionally widespread. As one moves from west to east the number of types systematically decreases. The distributional data are examined in light of current knowledge of Oceanic culture history. The linguistic and archaeological materials are found consistent with the "ethnographic fact" under study, and it is argued that the history of interisland and interregional contact in Oceania is more complex than has generally been thought. In conclusion, a case is made for a probable developmental sequence of structural patterns of sibling classification in Island Oceania that accords with most of the information reviewed.