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ESLBeginner Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Tribe of man

Hi, I'm wondering what does "tribes of man" mean? for example, it appears in the web page below:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/342860/truth your_history_books_hide.html

I know what is a "tribe", but what's a "tribe of man" ?

Best wishes,

Sam
  

Top answer

Hi, The writer defines the 4 'tribes of man' based on skin colour: red, yellow, white and black. By 'man', he means the whole human race. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, The writer defines the 4 'tribes of man' based on skin colour: red, yellow, white and black.
  • By 'man', he means the whole human race.
  • Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,

The writer defines the 4 'tribes of man' based on skin colour: red, yellow, white and black.

By 'man', he means the whole human race.

Clive
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Thank you, Clive

But doesn't "tribe" already mean "a group of human"? then why would someone add "of man" after the word "tribe"?

is it legal to say "a tribe of monkey" ?
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Hi,

Yes, you can say eg 'a tribe of monkeys'.

'The tribes of man' is also a more poetic, stylish phrase than the simple word 'tribes'.

Clive
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