Meaning of Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humankind and its various features. Therefore, it shall be a subject of science and half art. In short, the meaning of anthropology is human study.Anthropology is neither an idle hobby nor the discovery of prehistoric people’s bones, as is widely assumed. On the contrary, anthropology is the most extensive of the sciences concerned with man and their creations.

Meaning of Anthropology & Aim

Anthropology comes from the Greek word Anthropos meaning human, and logy meaning study. Therefore, the meaning of anthropology is the study of humans. Anthropologists study every aspect of humankind, from cultures to languages to material remnants and human development.The meaning of anthropology is global. It is the study of human communities and cultures and their evolution, and it aims to understand humanity. Anthropology is a branch of science that explores humanity’s biological, cultural, and social aspects. 

Anthropology Definition

The anthropology definition is: “Anthropology is the study of humans in its most literal sense. It is the study of everything that contributes to us being human. As a result, anthropology is the science of man. In reality, this historical definition is just too broad”. Anthropologists are attracted to all elements of the human species and people’s actions. Therefore, it draws in all locations and periods, from the species’ origin and development through prehistoric cultures to the present. Anthropology is a social and biological science. It focuses on man’s behaviour as a representative of the animal world on the one hand. Also, its behaviour as a part of the society, on the other hand.

 There are two primary branches of anthropology:

• Physical Anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology

There are few other sub-branches of physical and cultural anthropology. Therefore, the sub-branches will vary based on the classification of anthropology.

However, the four central anthropologies include Biological Anthropology, Social Cultural Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, and Linguistic Anthropology.

The anthropology definition for the central anthropology branches is given as follows

Physical Anthropology

Biological anthropology is another name for physical anthropology. Physical anthropology studies people’s origins, evolution, and variety. Human and nonhuman monkey evolution, human variety, and importance are three essential areas of study for these anthropologists. Paleoanthropologists, skeletal biology, human biologists, forensic anthropologists, and others fall within physical anthropology.Human development began 8 million years ago when apelike animals from eastern Africa embarked on a new evolutionary path. The study of Homo sapiens, their origins, and evolutionary development is known as biological anthropology. Anthropologists who research this subject get a better understanding of human nature and, as a result, the evolution of the nervous system and human brain.Under physical anthropology, forensics plays an important role. The anthropologists also work in forensics, studying human bones, blood genetics, fingerprints, and other topics. Physical anthropologists, who specialise in diverse subfields, work in this field. Many study forms involve collaboration from social and natural scientists and physical anthropologists.

Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology is an essential branch of anthropology that analyses and describes the culture in various ways. It is defined as gathering, analysing, and explaining information. This branch has a large following in the United States and Europe. Culture and character studies, history, materialism, and anthropology fall under the branch. In addition, cultural anthropology has evolved into a range of methodologies that embody the notion.

Social Anthropology

During the twentieth century, the phrase “social anthropology” was developed in the United Kingdom and was regarded as a distinct discipline of anthropology. It was noted for research methods, fieldwork, and solid academic connections.Social anthropology provides solutions to questions such as: “What is the structure of societies?”, “The connection between values & actions”, and “Why do people behave in the way they do?”Top tech firms, including Intel and Google, also use social anthropology to understand better how people engage with technology.

Archaeology

The human record is not restricted to written material, including alphabets and books. Besides it, they include cave paintings, lost stone tools, pictographs, earthware, and other art forms. In addition, many archaeologists now work in cultural and resource management, which is multiplying.For example, archaeologists interested in classical cultures such as Rome, Greece, and Egypt can broaden their knowledge in this region. In addition, many experienced archaeologists also work in domains such as cultural resource management, assisting state and municipal governments in their historical research.

Linguistic Anthropology

Linguistic anthropology is essential in the study of human communication. It is related to the research and understanding of language structure, speech physiology, social and cultural impacts on writing and speaking. Unwritten, non-European languages and other areas of linguistic anthropology receive a lot of attention. Linguists study regional and social dialects as well. The development of speech has been reviewed in several ways by contemporary experts. One of the reasons this linguistic anthropology is valued is that various groups have varied understandings of what speaking actions signify.

Applications

Anthropology is used in a variety of ways nowadays. Some of its uses are:

• Anthropometry is the study of measuring the body’s various parts. It is an unavoidable aspect of Physical Anthropology, and it is used to collect multiple measures of the body’s limbs to determine their ratios
• Physical Anthropology can also track out criminals. Because the types of hands or footprints do not vary over a person’s lifetime, knowing them makes it simpler to detect criminals

Conclusion

An anthropologist’s work follows a set of guidelines. The majority of the procedure includes conducting research. Universities and institutions require this personnel. Some cultural anthropologists also perform as administrators, researchers, or mediators. Few might even work in large corporations to better understand various cultures and subcultures. Native Americans have employed experienced cultural anthropologists to better experience community growth and contact with the outside world.