The Significance of Linguistic Interaction Spheres in Reconstructing Micronesian Prehistory
Rehg, Kenneth L. (December 1995). "The Significance of Linguistic Interaction Spheres in Reconstructing Micronesian Prehistory". Oceanic Linguistics. 34 (2): 305. doi:10.2307/3623046. ISSN 0029-8115.
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Abstract: nvestigates the role of linguistic evidence in understanding the prehistory of Micronesia. The author, Kenneth L. Rehg, discusses how Micronesian prehistory is less known compared to other regions in Oceania, such as Melanesia and Polynesia. He highlights that the conventional model of Micronesian settlement is primarily derived from modern linguistic studies, which require careful evaluation.
Rehg engages with the work of scholars like Irwin and others to analyze claims about Micronesian prehistory and the influence of paradigms on these claims. A significant part of the discourse revolves around evaluating Irwin’s assertions about the orthodox settlement model of Micronesia and the patterns of language reflecting late prehistoric contact spheres. The paper uses examples, such as linguistic features like spirantization, to illustrate issues within existing models.
Moreover, the discussion includes the use of tree models to represent linguistic relationships and address problems associated with them. Rehg considers borrowed elements in language and how they can affect subgrouping hypotheses [10][17]. The paper concludes by acknowledging contributions from various scholars while taking responsibility for its shortcomings. Emphasizes the complexity and challenges of interpreting linguistic data to reconstruct the history of Micronesia.
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MAG: 2312745435 OpenAlex: W2312745435 CorpusID: 147460163
