Amulek introduces the circumstances of his vision by saying that he was journeying to see "a very near kindred" (Alma 10:7). In a society based on kinship relations, it is possible that there is a specific meaning to this term. In other words, a "very near kindred" would be contrasted to a "distant" kindred. We find a possible model for these terms in the Nahuatl (Aztec) language. Carrasco has studied the Nahuatl kinship terms, and indicates that the system made distinctions between lineal and collateral kin. The term uecapan ("distant") is used to mark the collateral kin. Thus it is possible that the language of Amulek had a similar marker that would mark the "distant" relatives as well as a marker for a "very near kindred."
It is also interesting that Amulek is "journeying" to visit a very near kindred. This brings up another point of kinship relations. Perhaps one of the reasons for the political ties between cities in the Book of Mormon was that there were lineage connections. [Brant Gardner, "Book of Mormon Commentary," [http://www.highfiber.com/] ~nahualli/LDStopics/Alma/Alma10.htm, p. 4]