Note: This is a provisional (unofficial) English translation of the Japanese announcement published on our Japanese site. The Japanese original takes precedence. The translation may be revised without notice.
Paper Published in La Généalogie Vol. 1, No. 5
A paper by Yuya Kinoshita, Director of our Institute, titled "A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (5): Terminology (2)," has been published in La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Volume 1, Number 5.
Abstract
This paper, as the terminology of Genealogical Science, fixes the definitions of basic concepts and the name of the academic field. First, it prohibits the polysemous use of “genealogical record” and “genealogy” and prohibits their use to denote multi-generational kinship configuration information. Next, it newly establishes “keizufu” as the collective term for genealogical records and genealogies. As for the name of the academic field, it departs from the existing designations “keizugaku” and “keifugaku” and fixes “Genealogical Science” as a name that treats genealogical records and genealogies on an equal footing. It also designates traditional studies as “traditional genealogy,” collections of genealogical records (keizufu) lacking argumentation as “classical keizufu studies,” and research by genetic methods as “genetic genealogy,” and it names the totality of the disciplines “Genealogical Research” and Nietzsche’s and Foucault’s genealogy “power-concept genealogy.” Subsequently, on the basis of surveys of major dictionaries in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian and of actual job titles on social networking services, it shows that the meanings of “genealogy” and “genealogist” are “investigation and research activities concerning kinship relations in general,” without limitation by number of generations, purpose, or orientation, and that “genealogist” encompasses both academic researchers and paid practitioners. Furthermore, it establishes Japanese equivalents for practitioner occupations for which existing dictionaries lacked translations, such as probate genealogist (heir-search investigator), genetic genealogist, and investigative genetic genealogist. Finally, it demonstrates the grounds for adopting “Genealogical Science” as the foreign-language designation of Genealogical Science.
Publication Details
- Title: A Preliminary Study on the Theoretical Framework for Genealogical Science (5): Terminology (2)
- Author: Yuya Kinoshita
- Journal: La Généalogie (Keizu-Keifu Ronkyu), Vol. 1, No. 5
- Publisher: Family Research Council (Kakenkyou)
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.5_1
Access
The full text (in Japanese) is freely available at:
- J-STAGE: https://doi.org/10.69352/keiron.1.5_1
- Family Research Council:
