Final answer:
In societies, individuals are typically prohibited from marrying within their own clan, which includes the children of their mother's siblings. This is due to the clan-based system and the incest taboo, both of which are integral to their social structure and kinship norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
In traditional societies, kinship and naming systems play a crucial role in determining marriage eligibility. These societies often employ a clan-based system where individuals are connected through maternal lines, meaning that one's clan affiliation is inherited from their mother. In such a system, marriage within one's own clan is typically prohibited, as individuals within the same clan are considered to be family, even if there is no direct blood relation.
Regarding the question of whether one could marry the child of their mother's brother in a society using a basic naming system, the answer generally would be no. The child of one's mother's brother is still considered to be within the same clan, thereby making a marriage between these two individuals incestuous and socially unacceptable. The incest taboo is a cultural norm that prohibits sexual relations or marriage within certain degrees of kinship and is present in and many other societies across the world.
Anthropological studies, such as those by Claude Lévi-Strauss, have emphasized the significance of the incest taboo in maintaining the social structure by differentiating between family members and potential marriage partners. This distinction is crucial for forging social alliances outside of the immediate family, and in the case of the societies, reflects the cultural norms and values surrounding kinship.