名词含义的区分民族学(Vlkerkunde)本来的含义是研究所谓“原始民族”、部落文化、没有文字的民族或者没有工业的民族。今天则不同,民族学在德意志联邦共和国、奥地利和瑞士,等同于Ethnologie(民族学),在德意志民主共和国和东欧国家,等同于 Ethnographie(民族志)并包括民俗学(Volkskunde)。民族志学是侧重描写的民族学,其任务是用科学的方法来探索某一个民族地区、部落地区或者局部地区的物质或精神文化财富。在英语地区则使用 Differentiation of noun meaning Vlkerkunde originally meant to study the so-called “primordial nationalities,” tribal cultures, or languages ​​without words or without industry. Today is different. Ethnology is the equivalent of Ethnologie in the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Ethnographie and Volkskunde in the German and Eastern European countries. Ethnography is an ethnology focusing on description. Its mission is to use scientific methods to explore the material or spiritual and cultural wealth of a certain ethnic, tribal or local area. Use in English area