37.2060, Books: Australian Comparative Linguistics: Dixon (2026)

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LINGUIST List: Vol-37-2060. Fri Jun 12 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.2060, Books: Australian Comparative Linguistics: Dixon (2026)

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Date: 11-Jun-2026
From: Ulrich Lueders [contact at lincom.eu]
Subject: Australian Comparative Linguistics: Dixon (2026)


Title: Australian Comparative Linguistics: An Evaluation
Subtitle: An Evaluation
Series Title: Languages of the World 70
Publication Year: 2026

Publisher: Lincom GmbH
           https://lincom-shop.eu/
Book URL:
https://lincom-shop.eu/epages/57709feb-b889-4707-b2ce-c666fc88085d.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectPath=%2FShops%2F57709feb-b889-4707-b2ce-c666fc88085d%2FProducts%2F%22ISBN%209783969392812%22

Author(s): R. M. W. Dixon, Jawun Research Institute, Central
Queensland University, Cairns

17x24cm. ISBN 9783969392812 (Hardbound).  Languages of the World 70.
108pp. 2026.

Abstract:

Dixon assesses the current state of comparative linguistics in
Australia, and in particular the genetic status of the group of
languages known as Pama-Nyungan. The general principles of comparative
linguistics are first outlined. A number of techniques, which have
been suggested as 'short cuts' for uncovering genetic relationships
between languages are mentioned. Each is found wanting. They include
lexicostatistics, which was invented in America in the early 1950s. It
is here closely examined and compared with the standard Comparative
Method.
The first people entered the continent 65,000 years ago. There have
been radical climate changes since then, which will have affected the
distribution of languages.
In 1959, when Ken Hale first visited Australia, lexicostatistics was
at its zenith in America. Hale provided a lexicostatistic
classification of the 240 Australian languages. A large set of 180
languages, called Pama-Nyungan, was said to constitute a genetic unit,
but this cannot be confirmed by the standard methodology. In the
1960s¸ lexicostatistics was being discredited and rejected by
established scholars in Europe and America, at the same time as it was
being embraced by scholars in Australia. This continues, with the
entrenched belief that Pama-Nyungan has genetic status. Dixon provides
detailed argumentation against this position.

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics

Language Family(ies): Pama-Nyungan (pama1250)

Written In: English (eng, stan1293)



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