Kinship terms in the district of Vranje

Kinship terminology includes a variety of terms used to identify and address kinsmen. This paper deals with nominal kinship categories, used for blood or fictive kinsmen in the district of Vranje during the second half of the 20th century. In addition, some old-fashioned, long-used kinship terms were also noted down. In addition to the similarities with the kinship terminology used among Serbs in general, the terminology used in the area of Vranje has a couple of specifics of its own. These specifics originated in the particular cultural and social environment of Vranje. The appellations of (paternal) uncle, wife of father's brother, uncle, father-in-law and mother-in-law are just a few of the specific terms used in the area examined. A kinship relation as well as the maintenance of the bond is based on emotional attachment and life-interest similarities. This is illustrated in the usage of personal names in direct communications instead of kinship terms. On the other hand, some archaic kin appellations are still in use which indicates that the formation of the new terms does not imply the disappearance of the old ones. The concurrent usage of the old and new terms characterizes the kinship terminology, where changes act in a less visible manner. In sum, kinship terminology is a complex subject that offers a number of possibilities for understanding various aspects of the kinship system and segments of a given society.