Classical Kasshian Family Terms

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The Classical Kasshian language used an Iroquois system of kinship.

The terms for family members are:

Basic terms

• Chinani - Mother or Mother's sister
• Natatu - Father or Father's brother
• Chitassa - Younger sister or female parallel cousin
• Natassa - Younger brother or male parallel cousin
• Chespa (pl. Chettapalli) - Older sister or female parallel cousin
• Nastalka (pl. Nassatalki) - Older brother or male parallel cousin\
• Trikan - Daughter
• Nrikan - Son
• Chikalū - Niece (see below for other uses)
• Nakalū - Nephew (see below for other uses)
• Chimitā - Father's sister
• Nazonka - Mother's brother
• Chikottas (pl. chekkottachi) - Female cross cousin (see below for other uses)
• Nakottas (pl. nakkottachi) - Male cross cousin (see below for other uses)
• Chimanū - Grandmother or mother's mother's sister
• Naqualol - Grandfather or father's father's brother
  • If needed, one can distinguish between siblings and parallel cousins or mother and mother's sister or father and father's brother by adding the adjective chinokku/nanokku (near) for siblings/parents or chīpa/nāpa (far, pl. chekkapai/nakkapai) for cousins/uncles/aunts

More complex terms

Further terms, as well as additional uses of chikalū, nakalū, chikottas, and nakottas require an understanding of the dual-clan system of the Kasshi. Every individual belonged to two clans, a patrilineal one, inherited from one's father, and passed down through a male line, and a matrilineal one, inherited from one's mother, and passed down through a female line. This is the reason for the distinction between parallel and cross cousins. One's father's brother's children belong to the same patrilineal clan as oneself, while one's mother's sister's children belong to the same matrilineal clan. However, one's father's sister's children and one's mother's brother's children do not share clan membership, the reason being that, while one's father and father's sister have the same dual clan membership, one's father passed to his children his patrilineal clan membership, while his sister passed on the matrilineal clan membership. Likewise with one's mother's brother.

Past grandparents, only ancestors in a matrilineal or patrilineal line are named. Great-grandparents in a matrilineal or patrilineal line (that is, mother's mother's parents and father's father's parents) are chikanda (pl. chekkandaffi) and nasadru. The next generation above that is chikanda chībi and nasadru nābi (literally second chikanda and second nasadru) and so on.

For one's descendants, a man's male line grandchildren or a woman's female line grandchildren are called chidumaç and nadumaç. A man's male-line greatgrandchildren or a woman's female-line greatgrandchildren are called chinunu and nanunu. The next generation is chinunu chībi and nanunu nābi (literally second chinunu and second nanunu).

Other grandchildren are called chiquilu and naquilu. Great-grandchildren who are not in a straight same-sex line are chiquilu chbi and naquilu nābi (second chiquilu and second naquilu respectively), and so on.

The terms nakottas and chikottas, translated above as cross-cousin, are more accurately defined as the child of a woman of one's patrilineage or a man of one's matrilineage. Thus, for example, the children of your father's brother's daughter or your mother's sister's son are also called nakottas and chikottas. Descendants of these relatives are not named.

One's father's father's brother's children are called 2nd natatu and 2nd chimitā, while mother's mother's sister's children are 2nd chinani and 2nd nazonka