AIR 51 · CSE 2025 · ANT1 · 88 pages

Rasneet Kaur: ANT1 answer copy

27 answers by Rasneet Kaur, as written in the test.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Write notes on the following in about 150 words each: 10 x 5 = 50 Scope and relevance of Linguistic Anthropology 10 Determinants of kinship terminology10 marks
  2. Q1(b)1. (b) माइटोकॉन्ड्रियल वंशागति Mitochondrial inheritance10 marks
  3. Q1(c)Eugenics and Scientific Racism10 marks
  4. Q1(d)मानवोत्तर नृविज्ञान Post human anthropology10 marks
  5. Q1(e)थर्मोल्यूमिनेसेंस डेटिंग Thermoluminescence dating10 marks
  6. Q2(a)How does Claude Lévi-Strauss conceptualize 'bricolage'? Discuss its significance in his anthropological framework of Structuralism.20 marks
  7. Q2(b)What is 'total institution'? Explaining its characteristics, comment on how individuals attempt to preserve their sense of self within such environments.15 marks
  8. Q2(c)Discuss the unique features of Neolithic culture of South India, with suitable examples of various sites.15 marks
  9. Q3(a)Critically discuss the formalist and substantivist approaches in the context of economic anthropology.20 marks
  10. Q3(b)"Culture as extra corporal behaviour of man is dependent on the biological preconditioning." Discuss.15 marks
  11. Q3(c)Discuss the difference in approach of Victor Turner and Clifford Geertz to the study of performative aspects in rituals.15 marks
  12. Q4(a)Examine Harold Conklin's ethnoecological approach, and discuss the significance of 'fine description' as an ethnographic practice.20 marks
  13. Q4(b)Critically examine Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance in humans.15 marks
  14. Q4(c)Discuss major morphotypes discovered in the central Narmada valley which reflect the process of humanization and comment on possible evolutionary scenario for South Asia.15 marks
  15. Q5(b)Epidemiological transition in India10 marks
  16. Q5(c)होमो हीडेल बर्जेन्सिस Homo heidelbergensis10 marks
  17. Q5(d)Trends in age at menarche among Indian girls10 marks
  18. Q5(e)Sedentary Neolithic and Nutritional Stress10 marks
  19. Q6(a)Discuss the antiquity of iron age in India in context of new evidences. How does it differ from other parts of the world?20 marks
  20. Q6(b)"A single definition of marriage cannot be applied to all cultures." Discuss with examples.15 marks
  21. Q6(c)Discuss, with ethnographic examples, how the principles governing production, distribution and exchange in simple societies differ based on subsistence activity.15 marks
  22. Q7(a)Elucidate the techno-typological features characterizing the Mesolithic cultures of Europe. How does they compare and contrast with Mesolithic culture in the Indian subcontinent?20 marks
  23. Q7(b)Discuss the somatotype components and the dimensions used in the Heath-Carter method and comment on its limitations.15 marks
  24. Q7(c)Discuss the concept of second demographic transition (SDT) in the light of biological and socio-cultural demographic theories.15 marks
  25. Q8(a)Discuss various applications of molecular anthropology with suitable examples.20 marks
  26. Q8(b)"The achievement of erect posture and efficient bipedal locomotion is a critically important stage of human evolution." Discuss.15 marks
  27. Q8(c)Discuss the genetic and non genetic factors in bio-cultural adaptation of human beings to cold environment.15 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 384 words written

Write notes on the following in about 150 words each: 10 x 5 = 50 Scope and relevance of Linguistic Anthropology 10 Determinants of kinship terminology

Opening · a definition

Linguistic Anthropology deals with study of linguistic characteristics across societies in their socio-cultural context.

Inspired From

Body · points and prose

  • Ferdinand de Saussure's Structural linguistics
  • Gestalt Psychology.

SCOPE OF LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY

I. Studying Impact of language on Culture

(i) Sapir Whorf Hypothesis → "speech is the best show a man puts on which helps a man in his thinking."

(ii) Study by Whorf

  • Hopis
  • don't have discrete time and space words.
  • Therefore, they focus on present more
  • English Society
  • have discreteness between past, present and future.

II Studying Impact of Culture on language (i) Study by Elizabeth Zenechter → different social groups maintain their identity through different dialects. (ii) Gender Perceptions lead to use of words like "Chairman", "Policeman". (iii) Japanese society → different word used by male and female

eg chopsticks → Male call it → "hasi" → female call it → "ohasi"

(iv) Conklin's study → "Hanunoo Color Categories"

RELEVANCE :-

  1. Contemporary times → loss of languages As per PLSI → 900 languages in India are endangered.

  2. linguistic Anthropologists can help in the preservation of these endangered languages.

Thus, linguistic Anthropology gains more importance in present times. Also highlighted by GOI initiative

SPPEL → scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered languages.

In every society, kins are referred to by different terms. Sum total of all these terms in a society is called as Kinship Terminology.

MAJOR STUDIES

  1. LH Morgan in book "Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity in Human family"
Diagram
2Main Terminologies <-- Descriptive eg In India father and father's brother called by different terms <-- Classificatory eg All Aunts and Nieces Grouped Together.

DETERMINANTS OF KINSHIP TERMINOLOGY

  1. As per Kroeber and Lowie → higher advanced the society; greater is the prevalence of descriptive terminology.

  2. Generation → eg Father and son called by different terms due to difference in generation.

  3. Past Cultural Relic → eg WHR Rivers identified that "Devar" = dwi - Var ↓ symbolizes levirate practice.

  4. Sex of the Speaker → eg Among British Columbians, two terms for father, one by son and the other by daughter

  5. Affinity → eg different terms for father and father-in-law because the latter is an affinal kin.

  6. Descent Pattern

Close

eg Omaha → Patrilineal descent → therefore descriptory terms for relatives from father's side.

Hence, different factors determine kinship terminology of society. Contemporary society → newer evolution of terms like "God father", "brocode"