Kinship Terms in Northern Kurmanji/ Bahdinan Area with Reference to English

Abstract

As a universal familial relationship in all communities, kinship is based on biological aspects while kinship terms are cultural- bound elements that show variations across communities. The current work is an academic study of kinship terms in Northern Kurmanji/ Bahdinan area. Not only these terms are accounted for from a semantic perspective, but also their interpretation and functions are demonstrated from the Kurdish culture standpoint. There were three basic assumptions put forward as hypotheses of the work of which the first two are verified in the sense that (1) kinship terms come into practice primarily from a biological outlook, seen as a major role; and (2) these terms can serve social functions like addressing relatives, family members, and strangers or they are employed to refer to them as a matter of politeness and to show in case one's humbleness. Contradicting but marginal employment of kinship terms can also come to surfaces, i.e. they are utilized to belittle others