Human Complex Systems

Read’s formal analysis of kinship terminologies is well known and widely respected, as is his leadership in promoting the formal analysis of kinship through the formation of panels and conferences, and his role in this journal. As in all his work the paper is strongly reasoned and draws upon a knowledge of the literature that is long and deep.  All of these are reasons we welcome the piece before us.  On the other hand, the spirit of this work is somewhat different from that of our book, engendering in us some reservations.  Taking the strengths for granted, we will confine our comment to a couple of things in Read’s article with which we take issue.