친족용어는 언어공동체 구성원들 사이의 문화양식과 사회구조를 분명하게 반영해주고 있어서 인류언어학의 주요한 연구 분야중의 하나이다. 본 논문은 <<몽골비사>>의 친족용어를 인류언어학적으로 분석하면서 13세기 중세몽골의 친족과 사회조직을 분석하면서 친족용어와 관련한 나이, 지위, 금기, 성(gender) 등을 고찰하고자 한다.Kinship terminology in anthropological linguistics is one of the principal research subject because it clearly provides cultural patterns and social structure among language community. From this point of view I intend to investigate Mongolian kinship terminology inside “ecret History of the Mongols”which would delicately reflects nomadic culture and social systems among 13th century nomadic Mongols. Furthermore in this paper I will systematically look into not only terms of address and terms of reference but also various sociolinguistic aspects of kinship terms such as age, gender, social status, taboo, etc.
As a result of the systematic analysis of kinship terms inside “Secret History of the Mongols”several findings are as followed. Firstly, overall 77 kinship terms are listed in the text, and those kinship terms are mainly classified into four categories: consanguineal kinship terms, affinal kinship terms, fictive kinship terms, and other kinship terms such as kinship symbols, collective kinship terms, etc. Secondly, from the standpoint of ego vertically kinship terms are broadly used from great grandfather to great grandchildren. In the same manner, horizontally cousin terms and in-law terms are delicately explained. Thirdly, among offspring expecially sons are distinctively subdivided into the eldest and the youngest. This characteristic sub-division of kinship terms is also visible among brothers. By comparison female offspring(i.e. daughters) is not sub-divided by age as well as social status.
Fourthly, personal names are often added into kinship terms in order to clarify proper kin members. For instance, ‘Ӧlü(personal name)+eh(a kinship term for mother)’ and ‘Tsotan(personal name)+eh(a kinship term for mother)’are Temujin’ real mother and his mother-in law respectively. Hence, the personal name is effectively employed to distinguish kin members who use same kinship terms. This pattern of kinship terminology is also applicable to tell the real father among male seniors in the community.