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
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