Folk taxonomies in scene: the systems that the Wajãpi Indians from Amapari (AP -Brazil) utilize to classify the plants that they cultivate

Author(s)

Joana Cabral de Oliveira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2006-10-23

Examining board members

Dominique Tilkin Gallois; Laure Emperaire; Beatriz Perrone Moises

• Advisor: Dominique Tilkin Gallois

Abstract

The focal point of this research is the study of the systems that the Wajãpi Indians from Amapari (AP -Brazil) utilize to classify the plants that they cultivate, which are known as temitãgwerã in their language. The descriptions and analyses of these folk taxonomies are made with the support of two theoretical frameworks: from one hand the studies of folk taxonomies from a cognitive anthropology perspective and, from the other hand, taking into account the propositions about the Amerindian thought derived from the ethnology itself. In fact, these two theoretical lines should complement each other once it is intended to demonstrate that taxonomies are not isolated from others aspects of thought, neither are exclusively abstract or intellectual elements, but part of the experiences of the daily life. Therefore the major goal of this investigation is to show that folk taxonomies keep relations with cosmology aspects, sociology aspects, manners of knowledge transmission and agricultural management. (AU)