انسان شناسي و گفت وگو: پويايي ممنوعيت ها و تعلق ها در حوزه مبادله

Anthropological Analysis of Dialogue: The Dynamism of Taboos and Totems in Exchange Sphere

Dialogue, in an anthropological analysis, can he considered as a type of "exchange" in which the parties involved get into an interaction with each other while participating physically and mentally in a special sphere (the exchange sphere). The dialogue sphere itself develops in a field of interaction between two other spheres. On the one hand, there is the taboo sphere where any disorganized or irregular intrusion into it will cause tension and conflict. These tensions can turn into serious crises and transfer into the exchange sphere as well. On the other hand, we have the sphere of totems dynamically and interferentially involved in different levels and strata while the intensity and endurability of these totems are considered as two major elements in this regard. Any type of outgoing from the whole sphere, any displacement among the levels, or any alteration of the intensity and endurability of totems, happened in a disorganized or irregular way can lead to the same consequence as that mentioned about the tensions. Eventually, dialogue can be said to be a function of actions and reactions taking place in the two spheres of taboos and totems. The theoretical basis in the anthropological approach to this issue is based on a series of, theories starting from Malinowskiʹs analysis of "kula" as well as Maussʹs theory of "Lʹechang" moving to the theories of Levi Strauss and Francoise Heriticr regarding incest. These altogether serve as a basis to determine the spheres of taboo, totem, exchange and dialogue and to provide a theoretical as well as analytic framework for the concept of "dialogue among cultures".