Ambilineal descent, also called cognatic descent, is a mode of reckoning descent through any combination of male and female links rather than committing to one parent's line. It differs from Bilateral Descent, where both lines are traced equally with no descent group formed, because an ambilineal system lets an individual affiliate with either the mother's line or the father's line. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Descent RuleSourced to the subject's own accountKinship and descent-group membership may be traced through either the mother's line or the father's line, with an individual choosing or being assigned to one. 1 Typical RegionSourced to the subject's own accountDocumented especially in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands: Polynesian and Micronesian societies including Samoans, the Maori, Hawaiians and the people of the Gilbert Islands are often ambilineal, and the practice is also documented among indigenous peoples of Northwestern North America and among the Southern Yoruba of West Africa. 2 Connections
Held Differently
Both trace kinship through both parents, but bilateral descent forms no descent group while ambilineal descent lets an individual affiliate with one parent's descent group.
Associated With
Bilocal residence, in which a couple may live with either the husband or wife kin, is the residence pattern characteristically paired with ambilineal descent, which likewise allows descent to be reckoned through either the father or mother line.
Rule Category Of
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Cognatic Kinship
2. Wikipedia: Ambilineality
WikipediaLead paragraph and Ambilineality in specific ethnic groups and regions sectionQuote, Lead paragraph and Ambilineality in specific ethnic groups and regions section
Societies practicing ambilineal descent are especially common in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Polynesian cultures and Micronesian cultures are often ambilineal, including, for example, Samoans, Māori, Hawaiians and people of the Gilbert Islands. The indigenous peoples of Northwestern North America are also followers of ambilineality; and it is also found among the Southern Yoruba people residing in West Africa.
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