Pacific Linguistics - recent publications

[Malcolm Ross]

PACIFIC LINGUISTICS is happy to announce the publication of:

The semantics and pragmatics of Indonesian locative prepositions, by  
Dwi Noverini Djenar

A descriptive grammar of the Bukawa language of the Morobe Province  
of Papua New Guinea, by William Eckermann

A grammar of Neve‘ei, Vanuatu, by Jill Musgrave

Prices are in Australian dollars (one Australian dollar is currently  
equivalent to about US$ 0.88).
_______________________________________________________________

The semantics and pragmatics of Indonesian locative prepositions

Dwi Noverini Djenar

PL 583

Indonesian has three locative prepositions, namely, di, pada and dalam 
—roughly corresponding to the English ‘on, in, at’—which are often  
interchangeable.  That is, one can be substituted for another for the  
same spatial, abstract, or temporal configuration without an  
immediately apparent difference in meaning.  Even though  
interchangeability of prepositions is common in Indonesian discourse  
and has been observed by some, surprisingly there is no explanation  
available on this aspect of preposition use.

This study aims to address the interchangeability issue beyond a  
brief mention and will examine the uses of the prepositions in speech  
and writing and in different types of discourse (or genre).  It is  
hypothesized that overlaps in the semantic range provide speakers  
with alternatives for expressing the same situation, but preposition  
selection is motivated not only by semantic considerations, but also  
by pragmatic and discourse-related factors.  Such things as whether  
the message is spoken or written, to whom it is conveyed, and for  
what purpose it is conveyed, all correlate in motivating preposition  
choice.

With regard to language specific scope, this study is intended to  
fill a gap in the current studies of Indonesian prepositions by  
providing a descriptive account of prepositional meanings that  
reflects more closely the range of actual uses by speakers in spoken  
and written discourses.  It also aims to address the issue of  
preposition alternation, which has received little attention in  
previous studies.

ISBN 978 085883 566 5  x + 231pp
Prices: Australia AUD $59.95  (incl. GST), Overseas AUD$54.50
_______________________________________________________________

A descriptive grammar of the Bukawa language of the Morobe Province  
of Papua New Guinea

William Eckermann

PL 585

The Bukawa language is an Austronesian language which is spoken by  
coastal inhabitants of the Huon Peninsula in the Morobe Province of  
Papua New Guinea.  The Bukawa villages are all situated on the  
coastal plain of the Huon Peninsula.  This book represents an  
analysis of the grammar of the Bukawa language of Papua New Guinea,  
based upon data accumulated over a thirteen year period during which  
the author lived and worked with members of the language group doing  
Bible translation and literary work.

ISBN 9780858835740   xiv + 225 pp
Prices: Australia AUD $53.90  (incl. GST), Overseas AUD $49.00
_______________________________________________________________

A grammar of Neve‘ei, Vanuatu

Jill Musgrave

PL 587

The Neve‘ei language is a member of the Oceanic subgroup of the  
Austronesian language family. It is spoken in the village of Vinmavis  
on the west coast of the island of Malakula in the Republic of  
Vanuatu in the southwestern Pacific.  It is estimated that there are  
approximately 500 primary speakers of Neve‘ei and around 750 speakers  
in total.

The aim of this work is to present a description of the phonology,  
morphology and syntax of the Neve‘ei language by providing clear  
statements with appropriate linguistic examples. A synchronic  
approach is taken with no attempt being made to focus on earlier  
stages of the history of related languages. Likewise, no attempt is  
made to focus on linguistic theory or on comparisons of Neve‘ei with  
related languages. However, references to other Oceanic languages and  
other studies are made where these seem to be particularly relevant  
to the description of Neve‘ei.

ISBN  9780858835818  x + 146 pp
Prices: Australia AUD $39.05  (incl. GST)
Overseas AUD $36.00
_______________________________________________________________

Orders may be placed by mail, e-mail or telephone with:

The Bookshop
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200 Australia

Tel: +61 (0)2 6125 3269 Fax:    +61 (0)2 6125 9975

mailto://Thelma.Sims@anu.edu.au

Credit card orders are accepted.

For our catalogue and other materials, see:

http://pacling.anu.edu.au

_______________________________________________________________

Other enquiries (but not orders) should go to:

The Publications Administrator
Pacific Linguistics
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200 Australia

Tel: +61 (0)2 6125 2742 Fax: +61 (0)2 6125 4896

mailto://pacling@anu.edu.au

_______________________________________________________________




_______________________________________________
An-lang mailing list
An-lang at anu.edu.au
http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/an-lang