Cultural Anthropology: Caste System in India

Cultural Anthropology
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Caste System in India
The caste system refers to a grouping or a social class of people that inherit specific privileges or are considered socially definite. The caste system, like other societal segregations, dictates many aspects of life in India, even now. These aspects include where one can live, what job one can do, and sometimes what one can consume. This societal order is formed because people are different, and therefore different people fit well in the certain societal formulation. This system has been in play for over three millennia in India and is deeply embedded in Hinduism's beliefs in karma and reincarnation (Miller,2017). It is believed to originate from a Hindu god of creation called Brahma. Brahma is believed to have four heads and hands, which the castes are based upon. Belonging to a caste depends on the caste your family belongs to. It divides the Hindus into four main groups, known as the varnas; namely the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Waishyas, and the Shudras. Belonging to a certain varna represents who one was in the past life and which bloodline one comes from (Miller, 2017). Each group is believed to be representing a part of Brahma. Apart from these four groups, some are ranked so low that they do not fit into any varna groups and are always referred to as the outcasts or the oppressed.
Here is an insight into what every caste represents; The brahmins are considered the highest and most respected caste and are mainly composed of priests and teachers. They dominate the topmost part of the hierarchy and are believed to have originated from the head of Brahma. The Kshatriyas are the second highest caste and are mostly referred to as warriors. They often hold jobs like businessmen and farmers. They are believed to have originated from Brahma’s arms. Waishyas are the third caste and are always associated with trading and farming. They constitute one of the lower castes. They are believed to have originated from Brahma’s thighs. Shudras are the fourth caste and lowest of all castes, as they are found at the bottom of the hierarchy. They are believed to have originated from Brahma’s feet. People of these groups are associated with doing manual labor.
Productivity and Displacement as they are applied in Human Language
Humans communicate through vocal systems, symbols, and sign systems, consisting of a vast composition of signs, symbols, and words. These signs and symbols could have different meanings that are communicated and understood. Human language can be explored based on some characteristics. These characteristics include sounds, vocabulary, and grammar that, when put together, form a language (Miller, 2017). Productivity in human language is the unlimited ability to produce several formations of sounds to create words or use a certain grammatical formation to form a word sequence. Humans constantly create new sounds and word formations by exploring their linguistic abilities. When these word formations and patterns are repeatedly used to acquire meaning and understanding or acquire a certain grammatical formula, it is said to be productive. These grammatical formulations differ from one group to another and have led to the formation of several languages present today.
Displacement is the ability of a language to communicate about things that are not currently ...