Ethnology Vs. Ethnography: When To Use Each One In Writing?

Ethnology and ethnography are natural sciences and minor categories of anthography. The primary difference between ethnology and ethnography is their study content and context. Are you ready to know everything there is regarding ethnology vs. ethnography?

Ethnography is a division of anthropology that focuses on the scientific explanation of different cultures and elements like marriages, weddings, and beliefs. In contrast, ethnology is the class of anthropology that studies the origin, dispersion, and differentiating features of human societies.

It is easy to confuse the words “ethnology” and “ethnography” because of their related definitions and the fact that they are all branches of anthropology. However, there are differentiating elements between these words that you need to know. So, read on to find out everything relevant about these words; we will focus on definitions, uses, and differences.

Definitions Of Ethnology And Ethnography

Ethnology and ethnography are both subjects that study human cultures. However, if you want to know their difference, the key is to discuss their separate definitions and find specific elements that set them apart. We explain the meanings of both words below.

What Is The Definition Of Ethnology?

Ethnology is the natural science that focuses on the comprehensive demographics of particular cultures. Practitioners in this field contrast and liken the ethnographies of diverse societies as part of understanding a specific culture better.

So, they use methods like observation to capture data about various global cultures. An example in a sentence is, “Jane’s primary focus in college is ethnology and comparative religion.”

This word emerged in 1832. Its forming terms, “ethno” and “logy,” have Greek and French roots. For instance, “ethno” comes from Greek “ethos,” meaning culture or a tribe.” “Logy” is modeled on French or German words meaning “science, field, or study.” The pronunciation of ethnology is /eth-nol-uh-jee/, and it has four syllables.

What Is The Definition Of Ethnography?

Ethnography is a qualitative research technique that studies social and cultural life. It is a vital method for understanding the world and focuses chiefly on studying cultures and values at home and overseas.

In ethnography, the researcher must submerge themselves into a culture so they can observe it from the inside and gain a deep understanding of it. An example sentence is, “This is the most interesting perspective on ethnography that I have ever read.”

This word’s forming elements are “ethno” and “graphy.” The prefix “ethno” comes from the Greek word “ethnos,” meaning “race, culture, people, or a tribe living together.” In contrast, the suffix “graphy” means “the process of writing or recording or a description.”

It stems from the French or German word “graphie” and the Greek word “graphia.”The pronunciation for ethnography is /eth-nog-ruh-fee/, and the word has four syllables.

How To Properly Use Ethnology And Ethnography In A Sentence

As complicated as these words may seem, they are nothing compared to other English words with multiple meanings that you must recall. In our research, we found one meaning for both words. Therefore, once you master the definition, you are good to go. Also, we have prepared some tips to guide you through using these words in sentences.

How And When To Use Ethnology

Ethnology is a noun. Therefore, when using it in a sentence, you should remember the specific rules that apply when using nouns. For instance, a noun can be the subject or object of your sentence. Also, nouns serve as the linguistic and structural blocks for sentences. 

Therefore, a sentence with a noun must have a verb or an object. For example, “Ethnology is my favorite subject in school.” In that sentence, “ethnology” is the sentence subject.

Since this word is a noun, you can use it as the root for other word forms with related meanings. For instance, the adjectives for ethnology are ethnological and ethnologic. In a sentence, “My ethnological view of British society is biased because of my history with the Brits.”

The adverb for ethnology is “ethnologically.” In a sentence, “The communities are ethnologically interesting.” Note that ethnology can be a countable or uncountable noun.

In some contexts, like when referring to a collection of various studies in this field, you can use the plural form (ethnologies). For example, “The reports on the various ethnologies were riveting.”

How And When To Use Ethnography

Like ethnology, ethnography is a noun. Therefore, refer to the guidelines above for using this word as a noun in sentences.

Ethnography is a countable noun. Therefore, its plural form is “ethnographies.” In a sentence, “We should research the various ethnographies for a comprehensive take.”

The adverb for ethnography is “ethnographically.” Here is a sentence to explain that “I look forward to developing my work ethnographically.”

This word has two adjectives, ethnographical and ethnographic. For example, in a sentence, “My professor advised me to take the ethnographic approach with my research.”

Examples Of Ethnology And Ethnography Use In Sentences

After reading the above section, writing sentence examples should be easy. However, we do not want to assume that it is easy for everyone. So, here are a few sentence samples we prepared for you:

Example sentences of ethnology

1. Recently, I have grown an incredible interest in ethnology and comparative religion.
2. My love for ethnology peaked after my first trip to Europe; all the differences I noted in their culture compared to mine amazed me.
3. Vienna Louis is one of the top ethnology experts at the University.
4. I studied at CalU for four years and graduated at the top of my class with a degree in ethnology and prehistoric studies.
5. The most challenging college courses I encountered were ethnology, geology, and biology.

Example sentences of ethnography

1. The researcher could add more depth to his analysis by integrating his ethnography.
2. Mr. Francis taught us the best approach to ethnography for better analysis.
3. Knowing when to stop is not my stronghold when it comes to ethnography.
4. Historians use ethnography to gain perspective on foreign cultures, particularly exotic ones.
5. I wrote the best paper on ethnography, but my professor still did not give me a perfect grade.

Ethnology vs. Ethnography: What Is The Difference?

The primary difference is that ethnology is a comparative study of cultures, while ethnography is a qualitative study of a particular society’s social and cultural aspects. Another difference is that ethnology focuses on the general behavioral patterns in different groups. In contrast, ethnography emphasizes specific practices in group relations.

Therefore, ethnography aims to understand how cultures influence human behavior, while ethnology seeks to compare different cultures.

Also, ethnology studies use methods like analysis of linguistics and archeological indication. In contrast, ethnography studies include methodologies like observation, discussions, focus groups, and inspections.

These words also have different origins. For instance, ethnology has German and French roots, while ethnography has Greek and German roots. It is also interesting to know that ethnography relies heavily on valid proof, while ethnology relies on assumptions.

Conclusion

We can summarize by noting down that ethnology and ethnography are both fields of natural science, particularly anthropology. Anthropology is a holistic societal and scientific study of humanity. You can use both words in writing since they are recognized English words. However, it would be wise to be keen on the context.

“Ethnology” and “ethnography” are a drop in the ocean regarding confusing English words. Studies show that the most confusing English words have similar or related meanings. So, besides these two, you will likely encounter several other words that confuse you. Feel free to check out more of these words on our blog so we can clarify them for you.