Identifying a People Group Copyright © 2004, Orville Boyd JenkinsOrville Boyd Jenkins March 2004

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

1. A unique identifier  A name is insufficient  Not unique  Phonetic similarity in unrelated languages  Related but distinct peoples may use same name  Different names in different sources  Names overlap ethnicities and languages  Name may be from village, mountain, ancestor, clan, language, dialect, event Identifying a People Group

1. A unique identifier  Registry of Peoples (ROP) “Defines” Each Unique Ethno-linguistic Entity  Unique Code  Recommended Name  Common Alternate Names  Annotations to clarify and cross-reference Identifying a People Group

1. A unique identifier  ROP Unique Identifier -- code  Same code no matter what the name  Allows 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  Language Descriptor  Every individual and every people have a language (“speech form”)  At least one language descriptor (code)  More for multi-lingual peoples  Ethnic Entity with language gives us the Ethno-linguistic identification Identifying a People Group

2. Clear Descriptors  Location Descriptor  Every individual and every people live in a definable location  At least one location descriptor  Country plus more specific  More for peoples living across geo-political boundaries  Same code for this ethnic identification anywhere in the world

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

Identifying a People Group 1. A unique identifier  Registry of Peoples  A service of Harvest Information System Identifying a People Group

2. Clear Descriptors  Religion  Caste Possible Additional Descriptors

Identifying a People Group  Ethnic Distinctions  Large set of cultural characteristics  Vary in importance among human cultures and societies Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities

Identifying a People Group  Determinations  From extensive research at various levels  Intended to represent the self-identity  Location  Borders, different villages, rivers, dams  Distinctive Customs Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities

Identifying a People Group  Naming Conventions  from relevant disciplines  common terminology and conventions for descriptions of human culture Factors in Determining Separate Ethnicities

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

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

Identifying a People Group end Copyright © 2004, Orville Boyd JenkinsOrville Boyd Jenkins March 2004