The Larrakia Kinship Terminology: Asymmetrical Cross‐Cousin Marriage and Omaha Skewing

Abstract

The Larrakia terminology is a member of the very small class of asymmetric terminologies in Australia, but it is the most poorly described. There are a number of documentary sources, and this paper considers principled bases for the comparative evaluation of sources in order to produce a wellfounded description which can contribute to theories of kinship both in Australia and more generally. In terms of general kinship theory, the reconstructed Larrakia terminology raises issues for the analysis of Omaha skewing as a category. The prototype equation for Omaha skewing is MB = MBS, with equations such as MMB = MMBS being extensions. The Larrakia kin terminology is unusual among kin terminologies in having the extension equation MMB = MMBS but not the prototype equation. This raises a question as to the sufficiency conditions for membership of the Omaha category and the implications of the inclusion or exclusion of the Larrakia terminology in debates over the Omaha category.