People Groups Concept and Terminology An Ethnolinguistic Reference Point Orville Boyd Jenkins August 2005 Copyright © 2005 Orville Boyd Jenkins

A "people group" is an ethnolinguistic group with a common self-identity that is shared by the various members. People Groups Concept and Terminology

A People Group People = Ethno-Linguistic Group (ELG) E  o  – E  ethnos - ethne  nation / tribe / people / clan People who have a common self-identity, shared history and culture, common language

Ethnolinguistic People Groups Concept and Terminology Two parts to that word: Ethno (cultural) linguistic Language is a primary and dominant identifying factor of a people group. But there are other factors that determine or are associated with ethnicity.

People Group = Ethno-Linguistic Group Ethno = Cultural Characteristics Linguistic = Speech Form (language) Entails inherent, genetic factors, kinship groups, common heritage and worldview (cosmology), and social structure Common self-identity People Groups Concept and Terminology

A common history, customs, family and clan identities People Groups Concept and Terminology Usually a common self-name and a sense of common identity of individuals identified with the group.

Other factors: People Groups Concept and Terminology marriage rules and practices age-grades and other obligation covenants inheritance patterns and rules These are some of the common ethnic factors defining or distinguishing a people.

–May be so important an ethnic characteristic that it would determine a boundary within a group of otherwise identical persons Religion –thus a sufficient reason to consider religious groups separate ethnicities, or people groups.

What is a People Group? Technical and Practical Definitions ======  For more background also see the following papers: What is a People Group Cities and Peoples

Each discernible box = ONE “People Group” one worldview unit Note how they overlap and share features (colors) A People Group Worldview Unit

Ethnolinguistic “package” Self-identity Relationship patterns Language(s) A People Group “Worldview Unit”

Smaller groupings within the same ethnic entity Geographic – Ethno-geography; country borders; rural~urban Segments People Group (Ethnic) Segment

Social (Role, status, circle of relationships) Language, Education, Age People Group (Ethnic) Segment Segments

Note that some sources in the Christian missions community use the term Ethnolinguistic in the way linguists actually use the word Linguistic – all speakers of a certain language. This is not an ethnic group. Our standard usage: An Ethnolinguistic People would be an ethnic people with their particular language.

Various Demographic Categories applicable to any Ethnic Group and cutting across them Strata (also called Social Segments)

Called “Sociopeoples” in terminology used in some missions circles. This is not a standard term. Strata (Social Segments)

NOT “People Groups” in an Ethnic sense. Focus is not ethnicity, but common interest. May include many Ethnicities. Strata (Social Segments)

Another term sometimes heard: Ethnocultural This is another non-standard term. Used in the same way we use ethnic group, or ethnolinguistic group.

Ethnocultural Not used in any standard discipline or official context except the Canadian government. An immigrant ethnic group who retain their ethnic identity in Canada Thus “ethnocultural” means the same as “ethnic,” or “ethnolinguistic.”

A "people group" is an ethnolinguistic group with a common self-identity that is shared by the various members. Also called people, ethnic group. People Groups Concept and Terminology

An Ethnolinguistic Reference Point Orville Boyd Jenkins March 2005 Copyright © 2005 Orville Boyd Jenkins end