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Wissler receives scant notice today although he was a major figure in American anthropology. During the decades when the historical particularism of Franz Boas dominated American cultural anthropology, Wissler's theories provided a nomothetic alternative. His theories are in current use in various guises. The importance of Wissler has been obscured to some extent because he is often misclassified as a Boasian. However, he consciously worked outside of Boas's influence.

Analysis of genealogies collected from ninety‐four Navajo respondents living in two widely separated areas of their reservation revealed significant regional variation in kinship terminology. Considerable individual variability in the terminologies from one of these regions suggests that the kinship terminology in this region may be changing. The reasons for this possible change are unclear, but we note that the kinship terminology in this region resembles that of the nearby Hopi.

An epidemic of cattle disease led to a dispute between orthodox and reform Hindus over the holding of Akhta, a traditional cattle‐curing rite that involved a number of features in conflict with the reform teachings of Arya Samaj. The dispute was rather easily resolved, and the ceremony was held. We suggest that this happened principally because of the existence of a few cultural themes of great antiquity held in common by all villagers. In addition, parts of Akhta have been eliminated, modified, or reinterpreted to reconcile them with Arya Samaj teachings. These modifications probably took place over a period of years, beginning with the introduction of Arya Samaj into the village. Hence the resolution of the dispute here reported is part of a long process of culture change.