Cultural Anthropology An Applied Perspective, 5e Gary Ferraro

Chapter One What Is Anthropology?

Chapter Outline Physical Anthropology Archaeology Anthropological Linguistics Cultural Anthropology Emic Versus Etic Approaches Contributions of Anthropology

Branches of Anthropology: Physical Anthropology Paleontology Primatology Human variation Forensic Anthropology Applied Physical Anthropology

Branches of Anthropology: Archaeology Historical archaeology Prehistoric archaeology Contract archaeology Applied archaeology

Branches of Anthropology: Anthropological Linguistics Historical linguistics Descriptive linguistics Ethnolinguistics Sociolinguistics Applied linguistics

Branches of Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology Economic anthropology Psychological anthropology Educational anthropology Medical anthropology Urban anthropology Political anthropology Applied cultural anthropology

Physical Anthropology Study of humans from a biological perspective. Areas of investigation: Paleoanthropology - emergence of humans and how humans have evolved. Human variation - how and why the physical traits of human populations vary.

Primatology Study of anatomy and social behavior of nonhuman primate species: gorillas, baboons, and chimpanzees. Effort to learn about human evolution by studying contemporary nonhuman primates in similar environments. Tool-making skills found among chimpanzees in Tanzania help explain human strategies for adapting to the environment.

Archaeology Study the people from the past by excavating and analyzing the material culture they leave behind: Artifacts can be removed from the site and taken to the laboratory for further analysis. Examples: tools, arrowheads. Features cannot be readily carried away from the site. Examples: house foundations and fireplaces. Ecofacts are found in the natural environment and were used by humans. Examples: bones, seeds, and wood.

Archaeologists Historic archaeologists: Prehistoric archaeologists: Reconstruct the cultures of people who used writing and about whom historical documents have been written. Prehistoric archaeologists: Study the human record of cultures that existed before the development of writing.

Anthropological Linguistics Historical linguistics Study of emergence of language and how specific languages have diverged over time. Descriptive linguistics Study of sound systems, grammatical systems, and the meanings attached to words in specific languages.

Anthropological Linguistics Ethnolinguistics Study the relationship between language and culture. Sociolinguistics Study the relationship between language and social relations.

Responding to Unfamiliar Cultures Ethnocentrically Responding from the context of one’s own cultural perspective. Cultural relativist Responding within the context of the other culture.

Limits of Cultural Relativism If every society is unique and can only be evaluated in terms of its own standards, cross-cultural comparison is virtually impossible. There is no behavior found in the world that could be considered immoral if the people who practice it consider it acceptable or if it functions for the well-being of the society.

Value of Anthropology Individual Societal The study of different cultures provides a better understanding of one’s own culture and develops valuable leadership skills. Societal Understanding different cultures can contribute to the solution of pressing societal problems.