Initial *w in Pama-Nyungan
Date
1992
Authors
Chen, Shuzhen
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Abstract
The main purpose of this work is to provide lexical reconstructions of words with initial w in twenty geographically separate Australian languages. It is part of a larger project by G. N. O'Grady to reconstruct as much as possible of the lexicon of proto-Pama-Nyungan covering all possible initial consonants. My reconstructions serve as evidence for relatedness among the twenty witness languages. If cognates are eventually found in non-Pama-Nyungan languages, subsequent reconstructions will contribute to a proto-Australian lexicon. The more limited goal of this research is to provide further corroboration of Hale's hypothesis that Pama-Nyungan is the largest coherent genetic linguistic construct on the Australian continent. It seems that there is ample evidence to support this proposal. Theoretical considerations and the socio-historical situation are also considered. These suggest the need for modifications to the general comparative method and the need to view reconstruction of lexical items within a larger framework, the reconstruction of Australian Aboriginal cultural history.
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