Why is anthropology composed of cultural anthropology physical anthropology archaeology and linguistics?

1800s A+

As anthropology is a blanket discipline concerned with humanity in general, it has been broken up into sub-disciplines to deal with the myriad of different ways in which one can study humans.

Cultural Anthropology, or Sociocultural Anthropology, is primarily concerned with existing human cultures, sub-cultures, and may focus on such concerns as gender, race, sex, ethnicity, politics, and any other number of aspects of human culture.

Physical Anthropology is primarily concerned with the origin of humans as a species. That being said, some physical anthropologists work as primatologists and primarily study apes, monkeys, and other members of the primate family (see Jane Goodall). Alternately physical anthropologists might work in conjunction with archaeologists to better understand our hominid ancestors, or understand diet or other aspects of life in prehistoric times (see Leekey Family). Physical Anthropology also has an offshoot called Forensic Anthropology, which is what you see on CSI.

Archaeology is the study of past human cultures. Indiana Jones was NOT an archaeologist, he was an antiquarian-- a precursor to an anthropologist-- in that he did not use science. Archaeology is a highly involved and scientific study concerned with understanding how people lived in prehistoric and historic times.

Linguistics is often lumped in with Cultural Anthropology, but as it is addressed here as a separate sub-discipline, I will address it as such. Linguistic Anthropology is the study of languages: how they change, how they are formed, and why certain sounds are ascribed to certain meanings are all aspects of Linguistic Anthropology. See Sapir-Worf hypothesis.