This article reflects on the power and dangers of diagrams as a mode of anthropological exposition, comparing this particular form of non-text to the brief dalliance of mid-century anthropology with algebraic and logical formulae. It has been claimed that diagrams, like formulae, are clearer, simpler, or less deceptive than textual argument. By contrast, this article argues that diagrams are just as slippery and tricky as words, but that images and words slip and slide in different ways. Holding both diagrams and words together when building an argument enables not only a specific kind of rigor, but also moments of unexpected theoretical invention. This technique of holding together contrasting heuristics scales up as a productive epistemic device for anthropology more broadly.

中文翻译：

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关于视觉连贯性和视觉过剩

本文反思图表作为人类学阐述模式的力量和危险，将这种特殊的非文本形式与本世纪中叶人类学与代数和逻辑公式的短暂调戏进行比较。有人声称，图表和公式一样，比文本论证更清晰、更简单或更具欺骗性。相比之下，本文认为图表与文字一样易滑和棘手，但图像和文字以不同的方式滑动和滑动。在构建论点时将图表和文字放在一起不仅可以实现特定的严谨性，还可以带来意想不到的理论发明。这种将对比启发法结合在一起的技术可以扩展为更广泛的人类学的有效认知工具。