Ku Waru - Language and Segmentary Politics in the Western Nebilyer Valley, Papua New Guinea (Paperback, New ed)

The highlanders of New Guinea are renowned for their elaborate systems of ceremonial exchange. Although much has been written about them, previous accounts have concentrated far less on the conduct of exchange events than on the structure of exchange systems. This 1991 book deals centrally with the conduct of particular exchange events, and shows through examination of them how larger social structures are reproduced and transformed. As part of the emphasis on exchange as social action, the book closely examines the oratory that plays a crucial part in the events. Basing their study on original fieldwork carried out in the Nebilyer Valley, Francesca Merlan and Alan Rumsey focus on an inter related set of large-scale compensation payments which arose out of an episode of warfare. This book furthers our understanding of the interaction between social structures and historical events; and particularly of the crucial role of talk. It will be of special interest to anthropologists and linguists.

General

Imprint:	Cambridge UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Studies in the Social and Cultural Foundations of Language
Release date:	April 2006
First published:	1991
Authors:	Francesca Merlan • Alan Rumsey
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 21mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	412
Edition:	New ed
ISBN-13:	978-0-521-02524-9
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Language & linguistics > Sociolinguistics Promotions
LSN:	0-521-02524-9
Barcode:	9780521025249

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