[Nikkos@n]

In some areas of anthropology there are three categories of mEn: the living, the really dead, and (____the word I am looking for ___) the in-between.

I am trying to think of the term for the group of people who are dead, but are still remembered by the living from personal interaction, NOT historical accounts.

For instance, George Washington is dead, but my Grandfather, who died in 1989 is among the _____.
When they have been dead so long that no one who knew them personally is still alive, they transition to the second group, the really dead.
Therefore when I die, my grandfather will be reclassified, I guess.

I think Malcolm Gladwell used the term, maybe Margaret Mead, got a clue?

Thanks!

[Giulio]

Some theologians believe that human beings are made up of 3 components: body, soul, spirit.
Could it be "sleeping soul"? You can't interact with a sleeping man, but he's there in front of you, and you think of him as someone that sooner or later will wake up.
A sleeping soul is an entity that someone is still talking to.
Not what you are looking for?

[Nikkos@n]

Giulio, on 10 May 2010 - 06:06 AM, said:

Not what you are looking for?

Thank you so much for even trying Giulio!

I'm sure that is the word I was looking for, but your reasoning does make a lot of sense.

The actual classification I am looking for was used in the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil"; unfortunately I don't have time to go back and read the whole book again, so, if any of you know what I'm talking about please come forward! :-)

[Giulio]

I didn't read the book, but I saw the movie years ago: "Mezzanotte nel giardino del bene e del male" di Clint Eastwood con John Cusack, Kevin Spacey e Jude Law. Not a blockbuster in Italy... american movie for the american people, despite the story is really interesting and the plot is unusual.
But I've read it's quite different from the book. Sorry, I can't help you (capisco perchè lo hai messo nella sezione in lingua del forum... dubito qualcuno lo abbia visto qui purtroppo)

[Nikkos@n]

Giulio, on 10 May 2010 - 10:23 AM, said:

Sorry, I can't help you (capisco perchè lo hai messo nella sezione in lingua del forum... dubito qualcuno lo abbia visto qui purtroppo)

No worries Giulio, I appreciate your effort nonetheless.

I posted the thread in the English section because I'm looking for an English word, and it made more sense to just write the whole question in English.
Hopefully it'll come to me, otherwise, oh well, tough doodoo... ;)