When a descriptive term is used, it can only represent one type of relationship between two people, while a classificatory term represents one of many different types of relationships. For example, the word brother in English-speaking societies indicates a son of the same parent; thus, English-speaking societies use the word brother as a descriptive term.
When a term is used to describe a relationship between two people, it only refers to one specific type of connection; while a classificatory term describes various types of relationships. For example, the word "brother" in English-speaking cultures signifies a son of the same parent, making it a descriptive term.