Terms for Kith and Kin

Scheffler and Needham give alternative interpretations of Karo Batak terminology, the former describing it as a kinship terminology, the latter as a terminology of social/symbolic classification. Both these points of view prove useful in understanding the way Karo use kinship terms and behave as kin. The organization of ritual, the etiquette of reference and address, and the way Karo forge kinlike ties illustrate how both genealogy and alliance categories operate in Karo kinship.