Referring to Space: Studies in Austronesian and Papuan Languages(Oxford Studies in Anthropological Linguistics)

Series: Oxford Studies in Anthropological Linguistics

This collection of previously unpublished case studies of a number of Austronesian and Papuan languages illustrates the means that these languages offer to their speakers for referring to space. The underlying theme is that understanding the differences between the various systems of spatial reference requires not just linguistic, but also cultural, historical, and geographical knowledge.