Identifying a People Group Copyright 2004 Orville Boyd

Identifying a People Group Defining an “Ethnic Entity” Two Minimum Factors 1. A unique identifier 2. Clear Descriptors Identifying a People Group

1. A unique identifier q. A name is insufficient ØNot unique ØPhonetic similarity in unrelated languages ØRelated but distinct peoples may use same name ØDifferent names in different sources ØNames overlap ethnicities and languages ØName may be from village, mountain, ancestor, clan, language, dialect, event Identifying a People Group

1. A unique identifier q. Registry of Peoples (ROP) “Defines” Each Unique Ethno-linguistic Entity ØUnique Code ØRecommended Name ØCommon Alternate Names ØAnnotations to clarify and cross-reference Identifying a People Group

1. A unique identifier q. ROP Unique Identifier -- code ØSame code no matter what the name ØAllows comparison and exchange despite differences in databases Identifying a People Group

1. A unique identifier 2. Clear Descriptors Identifying a People Group

2. Clear Descriptors q. Language Descriptor ØEvery individual and every people have a language (“speech form”) ØAt least one language descriptor (code) ØMore for multi-lingual peoples ØEthnic Entity with language gives us the Ethno -linguistic identification Identifying a People Group

2. Clear Descriptors q. Location Descriptor ØEvery individual and every people live in a definable location ØAt least one location descriptor Ø Country plus more specific ØMore for peoples living across geo-political boundaries ØSame code for this ethnic identification anywhere in the world Identifying a People Group

2. Clear Descriptors Essential Descriptors q. Language Descriptor q. Location Descriptor Identifying a People Group

1. A unique identifier q. Registry of Peoples ØA service of Harvest Information System http: //harvestinformationsystem. info Identifying a People Group

2. Clear Descriptors Possible Additional Descriptors q. Religion q. Caste Identifying a People Group

Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities q. Ethnic Distinctions ØLarge set of cultural characteristics ØVary in importance among human cultures and societies Identifying a People Group

Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities q. Determinations ØFrom extensive research at various levels ØIntended to represent the self-identity ØLocation ØBorders, different villages, rivers, dams ØDistinctive Customs Identifying a People Group

Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities q. Naming Conventions Øfrom relevant disciplines Øcommon terminology and conventions for descriptions of human culture Identifying a People Group

Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities q Self-Identity Ø the largest cohesive group of individuals considering themselves related Ø biological kinship Ø shared history Ø shared customs Ø speaking one or more languages Identifying a People Group

Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities q Sub-groups Ø Every identifiable ethnic group will contain smaller groups Ø Access (communication) Strategies may focus on smaller groups Ø These can still be correlated by the code for the larger group Identifying a People Group