抄録
These notes aim to investigate the mechanism of exchange, especially exchange in primitive societies. In order to elucidate the mechanism of exchage, I adopt the concept of “translation” by F. Steiner. Clearly distinguished from trade and barter, “translation” indicates exchange of a useful object for a ritual object. According to him, two logical models describing “translation” of value from utilitarian spheres to ritual ones, are called negative and positive translation.
Through the data on Darfur by F. Barth and a structural analysis of “potlatch” by A. Rosman and P. Rubel, I approach the “structural complex” which determines the logic of translation and intend to make a structural model, indicating the correlation between the process of translation and the social structure.
I suggest the following hypothesis ; When the underlying structure is completely rigid, “translation” will never occur, that is, the flow of goods can never take part in the transformation of the social system. But if the structure has any flexibility, “negative translation” will take place at the flexible points. As the structural flexibility extends, the possibility of “positive translation” will emerge.
