Conceptual structure is constrained functionally, not formally

摘要

Kinship systems are best explained functionally, in terms of the conflicting needs of the society concerned, rather than in terms of universal constraints, whether Optimality Theory or other; but OT is particularly unsuitable as it rules out taxonomies. A conceptual analysis of kinship terminology shows, not that "grammar" extends to kinship, but that general cognition has the formal power to handle grammar.