Elder (administrative title)

The termElder,or its equivalent in another language, is used in several countries and organizations to indicate a position ofauthority.This usage is usually derived from the notion that the oldest members of any given group are the wisest, and are thus themost qualified to rule,provide counsel or serve the said group in some other capacity. They often serve asoral repositoriesof their culture'straditional knowledge,morals, and values.^[1]^[2]

Elder systems

Elder is a role played in the organisedcommunitythat is most common intribalsubsistence cultures,Elderhoodbeing the condition or quality of being an elder. It is essentially the state of being in the latter portion of one's life and being looked to for leadership of either a passive or active nature by your peers and\or subordinates due almost exclusively to this fact. Sometimes it involves a ceremonial investiture of some kind, and other times it does not. Sometimes it involves a definite chronological milestone which must be surpassed, while at other times the required age is simply relative to the ages of all of the other members of the group in question. Once having met the peculiar requirements of their individual groups, however, all elders are generally expected to mentor, share their experience, create a sense of oneness for their followings and, most especially, act as the spiritual embodiments of their communities.

Informal elderhoods

An example of informal elderhood is the role of the matriarchalgrandmotheras it appears in many parts of theglobal South.In the absence of viable male alternatives or even in the presence of them, grandmothers in these areas tend to serve as both the de facto heads of their groups of descendants and the catalysts of their periodic reunions and meetings. By doing so they provide their families with a cohesion that would probably be absent if they weren't present. Another example is that of the vocational mentor who guides his or her apprentices with tools of sponsorship, advocacy and the demonstration of skills. He or she serves to facilitate creativity in his or her charges by teaching the methods of the past as they pertain to their various occupations.

Formal elderhoods

In more formal examples of elderhood, elders serve as the members of the governing and/or advisory bodies of higher personages such askingsandpresidentsin the form of acouncil of elders.This often gives them a prestige amongst their peoples that's comparable to that of the classicalnobilityof ancient Europe. Due to this, elderhood of this variety is generally considered to be something worthy of aspiring to in the communities where it exists.

Elders in online communities

There are long established conceptualisations of elders on the Internet. In such online communities elders are typically thought of as established members who are outbound, often due to unwanted changes they can't prevent.^[3]

Titles in different cultures

Aldermanin systems withAnglo-Saxonorigins is synonymous with what in other systems might be known as a city councilman. It derives from the termealdorman,meaning "elder man".
American Indian elder
Aqsaqal,"white beard" inTurkic languages.
Auncient,deriving from the Norman French nounancien,signifying "an elder", has a restricted use in English ceremonialorders of precedence,especially in the legal profession.
Australian Aboriginal eldersare widely respected men and women of authority who have a deep knowledge of traditional lore. They are consulted on any important aspect of Aboriginal life.
Gerousiawas the Spartan equivalent of a council. The term meansCouncil of Elders.
Hor Chan,fromMayan language,meaning "Chief of Chan". Chan was a term someMayaused to refer to themselves.
Kaumātuaare the tribal elders inMāorisociety.
Odayis the term for elder in theSomali language.Elders hold an important position inSomalisociety, particularly within the Somalicustomary laworXeer,where they serve as judges.
Oloyeis the title of an elder of aristocratic rank amongst theYoruba peopleof West Africa, though they usually translate it aschieftain.
Onyishiis agerontocraticform of government in some parts of Igboland, Nigeria.
Senator:in theSenateofRome,the senators were men.Senatorcomes from theLatinrootsen-"old" (senex"old man", compare "senior" ), and the senators were actually calledpatres(fathers).
Seniūnas,the ruler ofEldership,(seniūnijainLithuanian),Lithuania's smallest administrative division.
Sheikhmeans "old man" inArabic.The word has specific cultural and religious connotations as well.
Starosta,derived fromSlavicwordstary(old), is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership that has been used in various contexts through most ofSlavic history(see alsoStarets).
Vanem,ancient ruler of anEstonianparish and county. From 1920–1937, Estonianhead of stateandhead of governmentwas calledRiigivanem,meaning "State Elder". Today, county governors are calledmaavanemand parish mayorsvallavanem.
Witanin Anglo-Saxon and otherGermanictraditions was awise manalthough usually just anoble.The term is most often used to describe those who attended theWitenagemot.

References

^Ikuenobe, Polycarp (2018)."Oral Tradition, Epistemic Dependence, and Knowledge in African Cultures"(PDF).Synthesis Philisophica.33(1): 23–40.doi:10.21464/SP33102.S2CID 195540414.
^Brill de Ramírez, Susan Berry (2015)."The Historical and Literary Role of Folklore, Storytelling, and the Oral Tradition in Native American Literatures".In Madsen, Deborah L. (ed.).The Routledge Companion to Native American Literature.doi:10.4324/9781315777344.ISBN 978-1-317-69319-2.
^Kim, A. (2000). Community building on the Web: Secret strategies for successful online communities. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.