LINGUIST List 17.1763

Sun Jun 11 2006

Books: Anthropological Ling/ Socioling: Merlan, Rumsey

Editor for this issue: Maria Moreno-Rollins <marialinguistlist.org>

Directory         1.    Joyce Reid, Ku Waru: Merlan, Rumsey
Message 1: Ku Waru: Merlan, Rumsey
Date: 10-Jun-2006
From: Joyce Reid <jreidcup.org>
Subject: Ku Waru: Merlan, Rumsey


Title: Ku Waru Subtitle: Language and Segmentary Politics in the Western Nebilyer Valley, Papua New Guinea Series Title: Studies in the Social and Cultural Foundations of Language, 10 Published: 2006 Publisher: Cambridge University Press
                http://us.cambridge.org

Book URL: http://us.cambridge.org/titles/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521025249

Author: Francesca Merlan Author: Alan Rumsey Hardback: ISBN: 0521323398 Pages: 405 Price: U.S. $ 80.00
Paperback: ISBN: 521025249 Pages: 405 Price: U.S. $ 58.00
Paperback: ISBN: 521025249 Pages: 405 Price: U.K. £ 33.00
Abstract:

The highlanders of New Guinea are renowned for their elaborate systems ofceremonial exchange. Although much has been written about them, previousaccounts have concentrated far less on the conduct of exchange events thanon the structure of exchange systems. This book deals centrally with theconduct of particular exchange events, and shows through examination ofthem how larger social structures are reproduced and transformed.

As part of the emphasis on exchange as social action, the book closelyexamines the oratory that plays a crucial part in the events. Basing theirstudy on original fieldwork carried out in the Nebilyer Valley, FrancescaMerlan and Alan Rumsey focus on an inter related set of large-scalecompensation payments which arose out of an episode of warfare. This cycleis particularly remarkable, as women stopped the fighting, and participatedfor the first time as transactors and orators in the ensuing exchangeevents. This book furthers our understanding of the interaction betweensocial structures and historical events; and particularly of the crucialrole of talk. It will be of special interest to anthropologists and linguists.



The writing admirably combines detailed ethnography, clear summaries of thestate of the Melanesianist field, and the broader theoretical implicationsof their work. Ethnography at its best.Social & Behavioral Sciences

As the data are excellent and provide much food for thought, the bookcertainly validates its claim 'to contribute to a more fully accountableanthropology of situated action'... a major contribution to the textualmicrostudy of exchange systems.Eric Schwimmer, Pacific Affairs

List of illustrations;List of tables;List of abbreviations;Preface and acknowledgments;1. Introduction;2. The setting;3. Some aspects of Ku Waru segmentary sociality;4. Ceremonial exchange and marriage in the Western Nebilyer Valley;5. Some linguistic structures of segmentary politics;6. Warfare compensation payment of Laulku: an analysis;7. Compensation at Palimung and the Kulka women's club;8. The events in perspective;9. Perspectives on 'event';AppendicesA. Transcript of proceedings at Kailge on July 24, 1983;B. Grammatical sketch of Bo Una, Ku Waru dialect;C. The conduct of warfare;D. Ku Waru metalinguistic expressions; Chapter notes;Glossary;References;Index.


Linguistic Field(s): Anthropological Linguistics                             Sociolinguistics
Written In: English (eng )

See this book announcement on our website: http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=19837


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