The Hamar cattle model: the semantics of appearance in a pastoral linguaculture

The rich anthropological and ethnographic literature on cattle “color” “pattern” terms has argued for the central role of model in visual systems pastoral cultures. This study provides further evidence to idea a structuring pastoralists’ systems, it explores indigenous meanings Hamar, language spoken Southwest Ethiopia. results show that pastoralists communicate conceptualize all kind experience appearance: Hamar system features such as brightness, sheen (de)saturation, rather than hue, are at least some terms; moreover, conceptualization categories referred mainstream languages “stripes” or “dots” is based conspicuousness stand-out effects geometrical shape. methods, tasks stimuli used were tailored collection comparative data among different societies East Africa. Their practical application discussed, illustrating effectiveness revealing important aspects cattle-centered meanings. • Cattle appearance influences structures pastoralists' systems. (De)saturation (lack of) sheen, meaning "color" terms. pattern suggest patterns anchored model. Visual can reveal