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MARRIAGE TERMINOLOGY
Where rules are implied
Training Handout
Let us look at a few of the technical terms we use for various marriage rules
Much of this is already in the
glossary,
but we put them together here for comparing and contrasting.
When you are looking at such rules,
make sure you know if each rule proscribes or prohibits (forbids), prefers,
prescribes (requires) or permits (allows).
The suffix, “gamy” is often used, and can be seen today as indicating spouse or marriage.
In different cultures, there are
different levels of formality and social recognition of
cohabitation.
In Akan
society, a socially recognised, non marriage, cohabitation is
called mpna.
A priestess is married to her god, but may have an mpna to father her children.
In Canada, persons living together
conjugally without having undergone a legal marriage ceremony, may be treated
in law as if they are married after a certain length of time.
Marriage laws are under Provincial
jurisdiction in Canada, and differ from province to province.
Very often immigrants to Canada bring
their marriage practices and customs to Canada, then modify and adapt them
to conform to the law.
Because having more than one wife
is illegal in Canada, there are cases when Moslems from the Middle East,
even if they satisfy all other immigration requirements, may denied immigration
status for having more than one wife.
Bigamy
means two spouses, from the suffix “bi” meaning two. It is a specific
form of polygamy.
It is illegal in Canada and societies
in Western Europe. The law reflects Christian history and values.
Endogamy
means marriage from within the same group, from “endo” meaning
inside.
Ethnic or racial endogamy means that
a person must choose a mate from within the same ethnic group or
race.
It is permitted in Canada, and practised
by some immigrant groups, but is not seen as consistent with Canadian values
of inclusion and racial equality.
Exogamy
means marriage to someone outside the same group, from the prefix “exo”
meaning outside.
The smallest group outside which
one should marry or have sex is the immediate family, and the incest
taboo, close to universal, proscribes or forbids it.
Lineage exogamy, where marriage is
permitted only outside a person’s lineage is seen as an extension of
the incest taboo.
Monogamy
means marriage to one spouse, from the prefix “mono” meaning one.
In Christian ideals,
and practised in Europe and North America, this is the preferred
rule.
Serial monogamy means several spouses in turn, one at a time.
Polyandry
means having more than one husband, from “andry” meaning male. This
is practised very rarely, and can be found in a few places in Nigeria and
Northeast India.
Polygamy
means more than one spouse, and includes both polyandry and polygyny.
Since polyandry is very rare, polygamy is often used instead of
polygyny.
Polygyny
means more than one wife, from the suffix “gyny” meaning
woman.
The majority of recorded cultures
and societies permit polygyny, but in them all a very low proportion of
marriages are polygynous.
Most men cite the extra
expense as prohibiting them from having more than one wife.
In the USA and Canada,
groups such as the Mormons and Oneida allow polygyny.
Since adultery is not illegal in
many places, polygyny can be practised so long as the law is not required
to recognise more than one relationship as marriage.
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