an equation for aboriginal "Skin names"

[Guest goanna300]

Australian aborigines use a "Moiety" system which avoids in-breeding when living in small nomadic groups. It is universally understood by local people and they consider the system mathematically obvious. Non-aborigines find it confusing.

 

(Take a look at the attachment).

 

It's not complicated in a cultural context, e.g. at a barbecue,

"So your name's Christopher. How do you do? Please introduce me to your wife Stephanie and your kids Emile and Emily."

 

This is because every Christopher you've ever met has a wife called Stephanie. All Christophers have sisters and brothers called Christopher or Christine. All their Children are called Emile and Emily. All their fathers are Emiles.

 

If you are a Chris, then every other Chris wants to borrow your car and may have his eyes on your wife Stephanie. You know how to avoid your in-laws. There are only 8 skin names so the system finally sinks in.

 

I work with Aboriginal people. This week I constructed a geneological database for their families. The skin groupings fit in perfectly, the database works. But my calculation fields were most inelegant indeed.

 

I have been looking for a simple equation that shows that if my name is x, then my future wife is X*n ; my children are all x/n, etc.

 

Anybody like to solve this anthtropological puzzle?

 

Steve

[Guest goanna300]

I see the attachment didn't get through Iam going to try to send the attachment again. If this fails, take a look at the North-Eastern and Eastern Arrertne Skin Names diagram at http://aboriginalart.com.au/culture/arrernte2.html

 

Steve

[Guest goanna300]

Another try at sending the attachment.

[Dave]

Interesting, but I don't know what it has to do with maths

[blike]

He needs a mathmatical description of it :/

[Guest goanna300]

More like an equation, as I said...

"If my name is x, then my future wife is X*n"

or, in context,

Let Pengarte be X

Let Ampetyane be Y

What is the ratio of X:Y?