CASE-STUDIES IN DUAL CLASSIFICATION AS PROCESS - CHILDBIRTH, HEADHUNTING AND CIRCUMCISION IN WEST TIMOR

The diverse societies of eastern Indonesia have, for some time, been r ecognised as important contexts for the study of dual classification. In this region the practice of dual classification is evident in a mul titude of social forms. It is found in the range of conventional expre ssions for category distinctions as well as in the formal organisation of ceremonial contexts and structural patterns of society. This paper examines the expression of certain dual classificatory forms as they appear in three types of ritual processes in West Timorese society. My purpose is to show how this type of classification provides a vital c onceptual means to both protect the well-being of participants in the conduct of the ritual processes, and at the same time, to effect symbo lic and celebratory affirmations of life. I argue that in the manipula tion and interaction of the dual categories it is possible to recognis e a striking commonality of purpose.