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50

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Nuptiality

50

501

The study of nuptiality1 deals with the frequency of marriages2 i. e., unions3, between persons of opposite sexes which involve rights and obligations fixed by law and custom; with the characteristics of persons, united in marriage; and with the dissolution of such unions. A marriage4 or wedding4 is the ceremony, prescribed by law or custom, which establishes such a union between a man and a woman as spouses5, i. e., husband6 and wife7- The spouses jointly are called a married couple8.

  • 4. marriage n. — marry v. — married adj. — marriageable adj., capable of contracting a marriage.
  • 6. A man at, or soon before or after his marriage, is a bridegroom (abbreviation: groom)
  • 7. A woman at, or soon before or after her marriage, is a bride.

502

Marriage laws1 or marriage customs2 differ in different societies. A society in which each person may be married to only one person of the opposite sex at a time is called monogamous3. Societies in which a person may be married to several persons simultaneously are called polygamous4. A distinction is made between polyandrous5 societies, where a woman may have several husbands, and polygynous6 societies, where a man may have several wives. The term "polygamy" is frequently used in the sense of polygyny.

  • 3. monogamous adj. — monogamy n.
  • 4. polygamous adj. — polygamy n.
  • 5. polyandrous adj. — polyandry n. 6. polygynous adj. — polygyny n.

503

In some countries a legal union can be established only through a civil marriage1 performed by an official of the state; in other countries a religious marriage2 in accordance with the regulations of a church is recognized as having legal force. Social or legal recognition may be given under various conditions in different countries to stable onions which have not been solemnized by a legal or religious ceremony. Different types of relationship and degrees of social acceptance are implied in terms applied to these unions, but their significance varies widely in different countries. The term consensual union3 implies a socially recognized stable union; the term common law marriage3 has a similar connotation. The terms free unions3, concubinage3, illicit union3 or cohabitation3 (cf. 512-3) may have different meanings according to the context. The term conjugal union3 has been used by some demographers to include both legal unions and more or less stable illegal unions. Two persons of opposite sexes living in stable union, whether legal or not, are called a couple4.

  • 3. A concubine in the restricted sense is a woman with an accepted conjugal status inferior to that of a legally recognized wife, particularly in polygynous societies. In other societies, however, the word concubine is used loosely to denote any woman other than a wife living in conjugal union with a man.
    cohabitation n, — cohabit v., to live in conjugal union.

504

, In many countries a minimum age at marriage1 is laid down by law. The age differs from country to country and may be different for the two sexes. Marriages among persons closely related by blood are called consanguineous marriages2 and are generally prohibited by law or custom. Persons who are forbidden to marry one another for these reasons are said to bo within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity3.

505

In some countries the publication of banns1 or intent to marry1 is a necessary preliminary to a marriage (501-4), giving public notice to persons interested, who may then oppose the marriage if they have reason to do so. In many countries a marriage licence2 must be obtained before a marriage ceremony can take place. A marriage certificate3 is usually delivered to the newly married couple4 after the ceremony. The consummation of marriage5 has occurred, or a marriage has been consummated5 when sexual relations have taken place between the spouses.

  • 4. Before the celebration of the marriage the future spouses are said to be engaged, a word which comes from the custom of engagements, which consists of a more or less formal exchange of promises to marry.

506

Endogamy1 exists where both spouses must belong to the same group (e. g. tribe, clan). The term is also used to denote a tendency for spouses to be members of the same social or geographical group or isolate2, which is generally of limited size. The opposite requirement or tendency is called exogamy3. Mixed marriages4 are marriages between persons of different nationalities, races, religions, etc. When marriage is contracted between persons with certain common characteristics, social, physical or mental, this is called homogamy5, the opposite is called heterogamy6.

  • 1. endogamy n. - endogamous adj.
  • 3. exogamy n. — exogamous adj.
  • 5. homogamy n. — homogamous adj.
  • 6. heterogamy n. — heterogamous adj.

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back to Introduction | preface | Index
chapters | General concepts index 1 | The treatment and processing of population statistics index 2 | Distribution and classification of the population index 3 | Mortality and morbidity index 4 | Nuptiality index 5 | Fertility index 6 | Population growth and replacement index 7 | Migration index 8 | Economic and social aspects of demography index 9
section | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 80 | 81 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93