Genetic Relations of Polynesian Sibling Terminologies

Relations between anthropology and linguistics are explored through the examination of the taxonomy and phylogeny of a small lexical set (sibling terms) within the Polynesian genetic language/culture unit using traditional and mathematical techniques of historical semantics and ethnology. Preliminary to examination of the Polynesian case a theory of sibling terminologies is developed, building on those of Murdock and of Nerlove and Romney. Beginning with the lattice of all possible partitions of sibling terms, assumptions are developed which reduce the number of terminologies (4140) to a smaller number (146), based on conjunctive concepts. The terminologies of a sample of twenty-three Polynesian languages/cultures are shown to be five of the 146 types. Four of the five types are shown to be adjacent points in an upper semi-lattice of the whole lattice. An evolutionary hypothesis is developed which further reduces the number of evolvable types, from 146 to nineteen for the Polynesian unit. The relation of the evolution of the terminologies and the daughter languages is shown. Likely paths of evolution of the terminologies are suggested. Functional correlates of the types are also examined, and it is concluded that economic features are of great significance in the evolution of sibling terminologies.     

Further revisions of the Sabellidae subfamilies and cladistic relationships among the Fabriciinae (Annelida: Polychaeta)

Cladistic relationships of the sabellid subfamilies Fabriciinae and Sabellinae are examined in light of recent revisions of fabriciin taxa. The potential placement of Caobangia in the Sabellinae is suggested from an initial analysis of selected fabriciin species and genera. Subsequent cladistic analyses at the family level produced over 1800 cladograms, among which Caobangia is the most plesiomorphic taxon of either the Fabriciinae or Sabellinae. Successive approximations weighting reduced this ambiguity, consistently placing Caobangia in the Sabellinae. Subfamilies are emended on the basis of these results. Cladistic relationships of fabriciin taxa, exclusive of Caobangia , display topological instability among some genera and species. Genera are, however, monophyletic in all topologies. Incorporating ontogenetic data for branching ventral filamentous appendages in Augeneriella reduces ambiguity among genera and suggests alternative transformation series for ventral filamentous appendages.