Arbitrariness.....?

Question

What does this means in terms of anthropology. This term is on a study guide for my intro to anthropology class and I cant find it anywhere in my notes. And when googled it brings arbitrary up which doesnt seem right? Any ideas?

Answer 1

arbitrariness relating the anthropology is when a word is not easily connected with the actual object...like in english the words "BOOM" or "POW"  are easily distinguished with what they look liked making them iconic.

I recall a bit learning about this from my american sign language 4 class...I may not be 100% correct, but more so than not.

Answer 2

I believe that arbitrariness in this context, refers to "accidental"...

The direction that Human Migration has taken, was largely dependent upon accidental climatic, geographical and resource-based factors, that may have changed over time!

So, who and where pockets of tribes may have settled, was simply arbitrary!

Answer 3

I know nothing about anthropology

But...

Arbitrariness sounds that there  is something in the middle...

Like a referee or an arbiter not opposing two sides, just guiding.

Answer 4

After digging through a lot of pontification (using five dollars words when fifty cent ones work just as well) The following legal site seems to give the best explanation.

Arbitrariness is the choice or action driven by impulse and not logic or reason. Compare our cultural actions at a burial to that of one in the Middle East burial.