MH Anthropology 2

Question 1

Which anthropologist developed the concept of 'cultural relativism' as a methodological approach?

Accepted Answer

Franz Boas

Answer

Franz Boas championed cultural relativism, arguing that cultures must be understood on their own terms rather than ranked hierarchically.

Question 2

The 'Sapir-Whorf hypothesis' in linguistic anthropology proposes that:

Accepted Answer

Language structure influences speakers' worldview and cognition

Answer

The Sapir-Whorf (linguistic relativity) hypothesis suggests that the language one speaks shapes how one perceives and thinks about the world.

Question 3

In Clifford Geertz's interpretive anthropology, 'thick description' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Detailed contextual interpretation of cultural meaning

Answer

Geertz's thick description involves recording not just observable behavior but the layered meanings, contexts, and intentions behind it.

Question 4

Which kinship system traces descent exclusively through the mother's line?

Accepted Answer

Matrilineal

Answer

Matrilineal descent systems trace lineage and inheritance through female ancestors, as seen in societies like the Minangkabau of Indonesia.

Question 5

The anthropological concept of 'liminality,' introduced by Arnold van Gennep, describes:

Accepted Answer

The threshold transitional phase in rites of passage

Answer

Liminality is the ambiguous in-between state during a rite of passage when an individual has left one status but not yet entered another.

MH - Master of Humanities Practice Test