ABSTRACT
In discussions of kinship phenomena the combining terms "lineal" and "lateral" are frequently used interchangeably. Firth (1957: 5—6), however, makes a definite conceptual distinction between them that clarifies their usage. The mode of laterality refers to the way an individual is affiliated to a kinship group. Among the family clubs there are four possible modes of affiliation for an individual, that is matrilateral, patrilateral, virilateral, and uxorilateral. In other words, an individual may affiliate with a club if his or her mother, father or spouse is a member or is eligible for membership. Or if Ego is interpreted as a married couple, the laterality modes of affiliation may be described as virimatrilateral, viripatrilateral, uxorimatrilateral and uxoripatrilateral with articulation to the group respectively via tire husband's mother (HuMo), husband's father (HuFa), wife's mother (WiMo), and wife's father (WiFa.)
