Thanks, emanuela

i suspect that the language/words for relations bears upon how kinship is used in the society.

I suspect that different societies, depending on how they veiw kinship relationships, have different words for children (boys and girls) and nephews, and maybe even grandsons.

English is not just a language made up from other languages, its made up from other cultures. Clans and other societies that 'elect' a leader from the most qualified relation to the king- (as opposed to societies that have a strict pateral linage) this might have placed different needs than these other cultures to name kinship relationships.

As for cousins (boy cousin vs girl cousin) it might be nothing more than the word following a standard ending (a gender as it applies to language issue!)

We use 'children' (no gender) and boys and girls, or lads and lasses, and other terms. some are specific --some not. Parents and relatives, and the family- convey relationships, but in todays modern world, one can have 2 male (or 2 female) parents. Mother and father a more specific terms that let you know the sex --(and if mother and mother, the sexual orientation!)of the parents!


my other obsession