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Exploring the conceptual and semantic structure of human kinship: An experimental investigation of Chinese kin terms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2010

Chao Liu ,
Yue Ge ,
Xiaoqin Mai  and
Yue-Jia Luo
Chao Liu
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. [email protected]@bnu.edu.cnpsychbrain.bnu.edu.cn/teachcms/luoyuejia.htm Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1109. [email protected]/~liuchao/index.html
Yue Ge
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. [email protected]@bnu.edu.cnpsychbrain.bnu.edu.cn/teachcms/luoyuejia.htm
Xiaoqin Mai
Affiliation:
Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1109. [email protected]
Yue-Jia Luo
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. [email protected]@bnu.edu.cnpsychbrain.bnu.edu.cn/teachcms/luoyuejia.htm
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Abstract

We designed an experiment to test the application of optimality theory (OT) in kinship terminology studies. Specifically, we examined the OT constraints within a set of behavioral data using Chinese kin terms. The results from this behavioral approach support and extend Jones' linguistic approach by identifying underlying cognitive mechanisms that can explain and predict behavioral responses in kinship identification.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 33 , Issue 5 , October 2010 , pp. 392 - 394
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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References

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Liu, C., Ge, Y., Schiller, I., Mai, X., Igoa, J. M. & Luo, Y. (submitted) Kinship representation differs across cultures: A comparison between Chinese and Spanish speakers.Google Scholar