DOCSLIB.ORG

March 2021 Work in the Same Area Or Country Payable to New Tribes Mission

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
March 2021 Work in the Same Area Or Country Payable to New Tribes Mission LINKYOUR CONNECTION WITH TRIBAL MISSIONS 2021 March EDITORIAL HEARTFELT THANKS Graham and Carol Townley took their first steps of faith into missions together in 1985, and as the Lord directs, so He provides. They served in Papua New Guinea for twelve years with their young family, working in Graham and Carol Townley various support roles before returning Isaiah 55:9 to the UK in the summer of 2000, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, joining the team at North Cotes that So are My ways higher than your ways, September. Graham worked mainly And My thoughts than your thoughts.” on grounds as part of the campus management team, and Carol in many roles, including kitchen manager and All of us experience times of waiting; It might appear that things come practical programme co-ordinator. it may be for answers to our prayers, to a halt, but God is still at work. In May last year, they took another for new plans to unfold, or for a We hope that as you read the articles step of faith, moving to Ingleton to change in circumstances. These in this edition, you are encouraged to refurbish the bungalow belonging to Ingvard and Erla Petersen times may stretch our patience as see that these times are not wasted; Graham’s mum, hoping to care for her we eagerly anticipate an end to the that God’s timing is always perfect there. In September, they received waiting and uncertainty. and is never hindered by unexpected the news that she had gone home Our missionaries also experience disruptions. to glory. Graham and Carol are very Ingvard taught in the Biblical Studies periods of waiting with interruptions You will see in their testimonies the aware of the verse Proverbs 16:9, ‘In course and served in leadership, and delays to their travel, or ministry vital truth that it is God’s work in and his heart a man plans his course, but while Erla was involved in various plans due to illness, family needs, through us each day that is most the Lord determines his steps.’ They ministries over the years, including paperwork and, more recently, the important, no waiting required. are so thankful that God overrules student housing and administrative in each step they take. For now, they work in the college. Together they pandemic and related restrictions. have stepped out of NTM, but their provided guidance and support to the intention is not to leave permanently, students in their fellowship group March 2021 work in the same area or country payable to New Tribes Mission. they are not ready to retire. Beyond each year. They moved back to the Volume XLVII or use pictures from other archives. You can donate online: the immediate plans for local ministry, Faroe Islands just over two years ago Issue 1 Link is the official magazine of www.ntm.org.uk/give they are waiting to see what God where God has provided them with a New Tribes Mission in the UK and New Tribes Mission is a registered Cover photo: NTM Resource is published three times a year. It charity, No. 278627. directs them to next. Their faithful place to live and new jobs. Recently Printed by: DMP, Keighley, is available without charge. Please Tel: +44 (0)1472 387700 service thus far is much appreciated. they made the decision to step out West Yorkshire notify us promptly of any change Fax: +44 (0)1472 387707 © 2021 New Tribes Mission of address or if you do not wish to [email protected] of full-time ministry. However, their continue receiving a copy of Link. www.ntm.org.uk Content of this Link or any previous Ingvard and Erla Petersen are from heart for missions has not changed issue may not be reproduced in All financial gifts should be sent Contact our representatives: the Faroe Islands. They count it an and they will continue to support and whole or in part unless expressly to NTM-UK Finance Office at the Ireland (North & South) honour to have served the Lord with represent the work of NTM Faroes. authorised in writing by the following address: [email protected] Publication team. NEW TRIBES MISSION, Mainland UK NTM for 20 years, spending the first We are thankful for their many years As our missionaries are not North Cotes, Grimsby DN36 5XU, frank_brearley ntm.org.uk professional photographers we are England @ eight years working in Latin America, of faithful ministry and pray that God stephen_jerrard ntm.org.uk not always able to use the pictures @ then moving to NTM North Cotes would continue to bless them in their [email protected] supplied with the submitted articles. Gifts may be designated for a in 2008 with their three children. future plans. We will in such cases use pictures missionary, ministry or other taken by other missionaries who purpose. Cheques should be made 3 about to buy tickets, the advice was Meanwhile, slowly working on that for over sixties, especially with translation, although motivation is medical conditions, it was unwise to low without a return date, we take up return to PNG, as there are no critical any opportunities that present for us GOD FINISHES WHAT HE STARTS care beds available if complications to serve the Lord. Our situation is not developed from Covid-19. isolated and many missionaries face Looking back over life, now in our help. How should we respond to A year on we are still waiting to difficulties, but we rejoice that the sixties, and in a global pandemic, we hindrances? Call it a day? In our case, return, with limited flights and last- work of the Gospel and establishing reflect on the goals of our thirties convinced that God finishes what He minute cancellations and reams of churches continues in many places. when a chunk of life was ahead. starts, we wanted to bring the work paper work. Some missionaries have As church planters in Papua New to some sort of conclusion. Our main returned, but the biggest difficulty Guinea, by now, we expected to be objective is to complete the translation for us is ‘over insurance’ due to pre- retiring, a New Testament printed and lessons of a selection of New existing conditions. We are thankful to and a flourishing indigenous church Testament epistles. be able to call brother K.... in the village established. But with sickness, family In 2015, Paul had appendicitis, which a on his mobile phone each month. It concerns, aging parents and more few months later resulted in a medical provides a limited picture, but mutual over the years, we find those goals condition that grounded us in England. encouragement. He is the only Bible unattained. With that now rectified, but with teacher... teaching the believers from Our home and belongings in the concerns about leaving an aging parent, the translated Scripture and Bible village were destroyed during our we have returned to PNG for shorter lessons. home assignment of 2007. This periods. Our last trip to the village The believers worry about us in Paul and Susan occurred just three years after the was October 2019. Good progress the pandemic. We rejoice that they first Gospel presentation and when was made with comprehension continue to gather in one of their checks on 1 Corinthians and 1 and 2 translating of epistles and Bible homes. News of our friends is vital. Yes, Paul and Susan are from Thessalonians. Susan and a friend lessons, together with teaching there is sadness at reports of those Chesterfield and have served with the new believers, was gaining completed the first draft translation of who once followed the Lord but choose NTM since they started Bible college momentum. Some suggested it was the book of Revelation. to continue in sin rather than serve in 1986 and have ministered in a not God’s will for us to return, but we Returning to England early 2020 there Him. We know something of what the number of roles. They have worked expected the sin and attitudes in this were obvious signs of the looming apostle Paul felt in Philippians 1:3-8 in with a people group in Papua New world to touch us and so we rebuilt pandemic but we had determined to writing to the Thessalonian believers. Guinea since 1993. They have three and picked up again with the Lord’s travel again in April. Then, as we were daughters and five grandchildren. 4 5 NEW TO NAYBA Elizabeth is from Canada and her The exciting day of beginning our husband Ragnar is from the Faroe journey of living in the tribal village Islands. They have been working of Nayba had finally come! We could with NTM since 1978. hardly believe that we were literally Most of their ministry has been in on our way up the winding path we were waiting for the rice and on the third week, Myrna, along with the Philippines, working mainly veggies to boil, the men made a 13 other ladies, came to spend the that leads to Nayba. We had been with the Kankanaey people. planning this move for a couple of circle around Ragnar and the women day with me. Their homes are very They have two grown children and around me. They each introduced spread out so it will take some time, years so I had to pinch myself to see eight grandchildren. if it was really coming true now, or themselves, telling us a bit about but over future months we should be their family, which village they live able to eventually reach all of them.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 0=AFRICAN Geosector
    2= AUSTRALASIA geosector Observatoire Linguistique Linguasphere Observatory page 123 2=AUSTRALASIA geosector édition princeps foundation edition DU RÉPERTOIRE DE LA LINGUASPHÈRE 1999-2000 THE LINGUASPHERE REGISTER 1999-2000 publiée en ligne et mise à jour dès novembre 2012 published online & updated from November 2012 This geosector covers 223 sets of languages (1167 outer languages, composed of 2258 inner languages) spoken or formerly spoken by communities in Australasia in a geographic sequence from Maluku and the Lesser Sunda islands through New Guinea and its adjacent islands, and throughout the Australian mainland to Tasmania. They comprise all languages of Australasia (Oceania) not covered by phylosectors 3=Austronesian or 5=Indo-European. Zones 20= to 24= cover all so-called "Papuan" languages, spoken on Maluku and the Lesser Sunda islands and the New Guinea mainland, which have been previously treated within the "Trans-New Guinea" hypothesis: 20= ARAFURA geozone 21= MAMBERAMO geozone 22= MANDANGIC phylozone 23= OWALAMIC phylozone 24= TRANSIRIANIC phylozone Zones 25= to 27= cover all other so-called "Papuan" languages, on the New Guinea mainland, Bismarck archipelago, New Britain, New Ireland and Solomon islands, which have not been treated within the "Trans-New Guinea" hypothesis: 25= CENDRAWASIH geozone 26= SEPIK-VALLEY geozone 27= BISMARCK-SEA geozone Zones 28= to 29= cover all languages spoken traditionally across the Australian mainland, on the offshore Elcho, Howard, Crocodile and Torres Strait islands (excluding Darnley island), and formerly on the island of Tasmania. An "Australian" hypothesis covers all these languages, excluding the extinct and little known languages of Tasmania, comprising (1.) an area of more diffuse and complex relationships in the extreme north, covered here by geozone 28=, and (2.) a more closely related affinity (Pama+ Nyungan) throughout the rest of Australia, covered by 24 of the 25 sets of phylozone 29=.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on the Gulf Province Languages Overview
    Notes on the Gulf Province languages Karl Franklin (Data Collected 1968-1973; this report collated 2011) Information compiled here is from notes that I collected between 1968 and 1973. Following the completion of my Ph.D. degree at the Australian National University in 1969, I was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship in 1970 to conduct a linguistic survey of the Gulf Province. In preparation for the survey I wrote a paper that was published as: Franklin, Karl J. 1968. Languages of the Gulf District: A Preview. Pacific Linguistics, Series A, 16.19-44. As a result of the linguistic survey in1970, I edited a book with ten chapters, written by eight different scholars (Franklin, Lloyd, MacDonald, Shaw, Wurm, Brown, Voorhoeve and Dutton). From this data I proposed a classification scheme for 33 languages. For specific details see: Franklin, Karl J. 1973 (ed.) The linguistic situation in the Gulf District and adjacent areas, Papua New Guinea. Pacific Linguistics, Series C, 26, x + 597 pp. Overview There are three sections in this paper. The first is a table that briefly outlines information on languages, dialects and villages of the Gulf Province. (Note that I cannot verify the spelling of each village/language due to differences between various sources.) The second section of the paper is an annotated bibliography and the third is an Appendix with notes from Annual Reports of the Territory of Papua. Source Notes Author/Language Woodward Annual pp. 19-22 by Woodward notes that: Report (AR) Four men of Pepeha were murdered by Kibeni; there is 1919-20:19- now friendly relations between Kirewa and Namau; 22 information on patrols to Ututi, Sirebi, and Kumukumu village on a whaleboat.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    PNG Rural Communications ESMF E2429 &217(176 Acronyms.......................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1: Introduction........................................................................................................ 5 1.1 General Context of the Report.................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 6 1.2.1 General Summary ................................................................................................................. 6 Public Disclosure Authorized 1.2.2 Field Report Summary............................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2. Environmental and Social Management Framework ................................................. 9 2.1 Background to ESMF ................................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Objectives of the ESMF............................................................................................................. 9 2.3 Background to PNG Information and Communication Sector ...................................................... 10 2.4 PNG’s Current Rural Communication Project Description ........................................................... 14 2.5 Project Location.....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Tropical Forests of Oceania: Anthropological Perspectives
    TROPICAL FORESTS OF OCEANIA Anthropological Perspectives TROPICAL FORESTS OF OCEANIA Anthropological Perspectives EDITED BY JOSHUA A. BELL, PAIGE WEST AND COLIN FILER ASIA-PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT MONOGRAPH 10 Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at http://press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Tropical forests of Oceania : anthropological perspectives / editors: Joshua A. Bell, Paige West, Colin Filer. ISBN: 9781925022728 (paperback) 9781925022735 (ebook) Series: Asia-Pacific environment monograph ; 10 Subjects: Rain forests--Oceania. Forest conservation--Oceania. Forests and forestry--Oceania. Human ecology--Oceania. Other Creators/Contributors: Bell, Joshua A., editor. West, Paige, 1969- editor. Filer, Colin, editor. Dewey Number: 577.34 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover photograph, courtesy of Simon Foale, shows an oil palm estate in the making in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2015 ANU Press Contents Tables ........................................................................ vii Figures .......................................................................ix Contributors ...................................................................xi
    [Show full text]
  • Languages of the World--Indo-Pacific
    REPORT RESUMES ED 010 365 48 LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD- -INDO-PACIFIC FASCICLE FIVE. BY- VOEGELIN, FLORENCE M. INDIANA UNIV., BLOOMINGTON REPORT NUMBER NDEA- VI -63-18 PUB DATE DEC 65 CONTRACT OECSAE9468 FORS PRICE MFS0.16 HC -$4.96 124P. ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS, 7(9)/11141 DEC.1965 DESCRIPTORS- *INDO PACIFICLANGUAGES, *LANGUAGES,ARCHIVES OF LANGUAGES OF THE 'WORLD,BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA THE NON-AUSTRONESIANLANGUAGES CENTERIN1 IN NEWGUINEA ARE LISTED AND DESCRIBEDIN THIS REPORT. IN ADDITION, SENTENCE SAMPLERS OF THEUSARUFA AND WANTOATLANGUAGES ARE PROVIDED. (THE REPORT ISPART OF A SERIES, ED 010350 IC ED 010 367.) (JK) trt 63-/f3 U. S. DEPARTMENTOF HEALTH, 1`11 EDUCATION ANDWELFARE Office of Education c'4 This document 5/C- C: has been reproducedexactly ea received person or orgargzation from the °deluging it Pointsct view or opinions stated do net mensal*represent official CZ) pos:then or policy. Ottica at Edu Mon AnthropologicalLinguistics ti Volume 7 Number 9 December 1965 I LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD:-.. INDOPACIFIC FASCICLE FIVE A Publication of the ARCHIVES OF LANGUAGESOF THE WORLD Anthropology Department Indiana University ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS is designedprimarily, but not exclusively, for the immediate publication of data-oriented papers for which attestationis available in the form oftape recordings on deposit in the Archives of Languages of the World.This does not imply that contributorswill be re- stricted to scholars working in tle Archivesat Indiana University; infact, one motivation far the of ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS
    [Show full text]
  • Computing a World Tree of Languages from Word Lists
    From words to features to trees: Computing a world tree of languages from word lists Gerhard Jäger Tübingen University Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies October 16, 2017 Gerhard Jäger (Tübingen) Words to trees HITS 1 / 45 Introduction Introduction Gerhard Jäger (Tübingen) Words to trees HITS 2 / 45 Introduction Language change and evolution The formation of dierent languages and of distinct species, and the proofs that both have been developed through a gradual process, are curiously parallel. [...] We nd in distinct languages striking homologies due to community of descent, and analogies due to a similar process of formation. The manner in which certain letters or sounds change when others change is very like correlated growth. [...] The frequent presence of rudiments, both in languages and in species, is still more remarkable. [...] Languages, like organic beings, can be classed in groups under groups; and they can be classed either naturally according to descent, or articially by other characters. Dominant languages and dialects spread widely, and lead to the gradual extinction of other tongues. (Darwin, The Descent of Man) Gerhard Jäger (Tübingen) Words to trees HITS 3 / 45 Introduction Language change and evolution Vater Unser im Himmel, geheiligt werde Dein Name Onze Vader in de Hemel, laat Uw Naam geheiligd worden Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name Fader Vor, du som er i himlene! Helliget vorde dit navn Gerhard Jäger (Tübingen) Words to trees HITS 4 / 45 Introduction Language change and evolution Gerhard Jäger
    [Show full text]
  • Nomenclature Abbreviations
    Abbreviations * As a prefix, indicates a proto language word /?/ glottal stop 2′ compound for 3 = 2 + 1 or rarely 1 + 1 + 1 but numeral for 4 2″ distinct numeral for 3 but 4 is a compound, usually 2 + 2, rarely 5 - 1 or 2 + 1 + 1 AN Austronesian languages BC or BCE Before Christ, that is before the Current Era taken as before the period of Christ BP Before the present CE or AD In the current era, that is after the year of the Lord (Domino/Dominum) Christ CSQ, MQ Counting System Questionnaire; Measurement Questionnaire d. dialect IMP Indigenous Mathematics Project Manus type Lean used this to refer to counting systems that used subtraction from 10 such as 7=10-3, 8=10-2, 9=10-1, often with the meaning e.g. for 7 as 3 needed to com- plete the group MC Micronesian Motu type Lean used this to refer to counting systems that used pairs such as 6=2x3, 7=2x3+1, 8=2x4, 9=2x4+1 NAN Non-Austronesian (also called Papuan) languages NCQ, CQN Noun, classifier, quantifier; classifier, quantifier, noun NQC, QCN Noun, quantifier, classifier; quantifier, classifier, noun NTM New Tribes Mission, PNG PAN Proto Austronesian PN Polynesian PNG Papua New Guinea POC Proto Oceanic QC, CQ Order of quantifier-classifier; classifier-quantifier respectively SHWNG South Halmahera West New Guinea (AN Non-Oceanic language of the Central- Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, a subgroup of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian) after Tryon (2006) SIL Summer Institute of Linguistics SOV Order of words in a sentence: Subject Object Verb SVO Order of words in a sentence: Subject Verb Object TNG Trans New Guinea Phylum Nomenclature The Australian system of numbering is used.
    [Show full text]
  • The World Tree of Languages: How to Infer It from Data, and What It Is Good For
    The world tree of languages: How to infer it from data, and what it is good for Gerhard Jäger Tübingen University Workshop Evolutionary Theory in the Humanities, Torun April 14, 2018 Gerhard Jäger (Tübingen) Words to trees Torun 1 / 42 Introduction Introduction Gerhard Jäger (Tübingen) Words to trees Torun 2 / 42 Introduction Language change and evolution “If we possessed a perfect pedigree of mankind, a genealogical arrangement of the races of man would afford the best classification of the various languages now spoken throughout the world; and if all extinct languages, and all intermediate and slowly changing dialects, had to be included, such an arrangement would, I think, be the only possible one. Yet it might be that some very ancient language had altered little, and had given rise to few new languages, whilst others (owing to the spreading and subsequent isolation and states of civilisation of the several races, descended from a common race) had altered much, and had given rise to many new languages and dialects. The various degrees of difference in the languages from the same stock, would have to be expressed by groups subordinate to groups; but the proper or even only possible arrangement would still be genealogical; and this would be strictly natural, as it would connect together all languages, extinct and modern, by the closest affinities, and would give the filiation and origin of each tongue.” (Darwin, The Origin of Species) Gerhard Jäger (Tübingen) Words to trees Torun 3 / 42 Introduction Language phylogeny Comparative method 1
    [Show full text]
  • ANUARIO DEL SEMINARIO DE FILOLOGÍA VASCA «JULIO DE URQUIJO» International Journal of Basque Linguistics and Philology
    ANUARIO DEL SEMINARIO DE FILOLOGÍA VASCA «JULIO DE URQUIJO» International Journal of Basque Linguistics and Philology LII: 1-2 (2018) Studia Philologica et Diachronica in honorem Joakin Gorrotxategi Vasconica et Aquitanica Joseba A. Lakarra - Blanca Urgell (arg. / eds.) AASJUSJU 22018018 Gorrotxategi.indbGorrotxategi.indb i 331/10/181/10/18 111:06:151:06:15 How Many Language Families are there in the World? Lyle Campbell University of Hawai‘i Mānoa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1387/asju.20195 Abstract The question of how many language families there are in the world is addressed here. The reasons for why it has been so difficult to answer this question are explored. The ans- wer arrived at here is 406 independent language families (including language isolates); however, this number is relative, and factors that prevent us from arriving at a definitive number for the world’s language families are discussed. A full list of the generally accepted language families is presented, which eliminates from consideration unclassified (unclas- sifiable) languages, pidgin and creole languages, sign languages, languages of undeciphe- red writing systems, among other things. A number of theoretical and methodological is- sues fundamental to historical linguistics are discussed that have impacted interpretations both of how language families are established and of particular languages families, both of which have implications for the ultimate number of language families. Keywords: language family, family tree, unclassified language, uncontacted groups, lan- guage isolate, undeciphered script, language surrogate. 1. Introduction How many language families are there in the world? Surprisingly, most linguists do not know. Estimates range from one (according to supporters of Proto-World) to as many as about 500.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Linguistics.’ H Graham Thurgood, American Anthropologist L
    212 eup Campbell_119558 eup Historic Linguistic 23/07/2012 14:41 Page 1 THIRD EDITION ‘Campbell has done an exemplary job of providing a modern introduction to T HIRD E DITION historical linguistics.’ H Graham Thurgood, American Anthropologist L This state-of-the-art, practical introduction to historical linguistics – the study of I I language change – does not just talk about topics. With abundant examples and N S LYLE CAMPBELL exercises, it helps students learn for themselves how to do historical linguistics. G T Distinctive to the book is its combination of the standard traditional topics with O others now considered vital to historical linguistics: explanations of why languages U change; sociolinguistic aspects of linguistic change; syntactic change and I grammaticalization; distant genetic relationships (showing how languages are R related); and linguistic prehistory. In addition, this third edition contains: two new S chapters on morphological change and quantitative approaches; a much expanded I T HISTORICAL chapter on language contact with new sections on pidgins and creoles, mixed C languages and endangered languages; new sections on the language families and I A language isolates of the world; an examination of specific proposals of distant genetic C relationship; and a new section on writing systems. L S With its clear, readable style, expert guidance and comprehensive coverage, Historical LINGUISTICS Linguistics: An Introduction is not only an invaluable textbook for students coming to the subject for the first time, but also
    [Show full text]
  • 2 the Trans New Guinea Family Andrew Pawley and Harald Hammarström
    2 The Trans New Guinea family Andrew Pawley and Harald Hammarström 2.1 Introduction The island of New Guinea is a region of spectacular, deep linguistic diversity.1 It contains roughly 850 languages, which on present evidence fall into at least 18 language families that are not demonstrably related, along with several iso- lates.2 This immense diversity, far greater than that found in the much larger area of Europe, is no doubt mainly a consequence of the fact that New Guinea has been occupied for roughly 50,000 years by peoples organised into small kin-based social groups, lacking overarching political affiliations, and dispersed across a terrain largely dominated by rugged mountains and swampy lowlands, with quite frequent population movements. Among the non-Austronesian families of New Guinea one family stands out for its large membership and wide geographic spread: Trans New Guinea (TNG). With a probable membership of between 300 and 500 discrete languages, plus hundreds of highly divergent dialects, TNG is among the most numerous of the world’s language families.3 TNG languages are spoken from the Bomberai Pen- insula at the western end of mainland New Guinea (132 degrees E) almost to the eastern tip of the island (150 degrees E). Most of the cordillera that runs for more than 2000 kilometers along the centre of New Guinea is occupied exclusively by TNG languages. They are also prominent in much of the lowlands to the south of the cordillera and in patches to the north, especially from central Madang Province eastwards. There are possible outliers spoken on Timor, Alor and Pantar.
    [Show full text]
  • 2 the Trans New Guinea Family Andrew Pawley and Harald Hammarström
    2 The Trans New Guinea family Andrew Pawley and Harald Hammarström 2.1 Introduction The island of New Guinea is a region of spectacular, deep linguistic diversity.1 It contains roughly 850 languages, which on present evidence fall into at least 18 language families that are not demonstrably related, along with several iso- lates.2 This immense diversity, far greater than that found in the much larger area of Europe, is no doubt mainly a consequence of the fact that New Guinea has been occupied for roughly 50,000 years by peoples organised into small kin-based social groups, lacking overarching political affiliations, and dispersed across a terrain largely dominated by rugged mountains and swampy lowlands, with quite frequent population movements. Among the non-Austronesian families of New Guinea one family stands out for its large membership and wide geographic spread: Trans New Guinea (TNG). With a probable membership of between 300 and 500 discrete languages, plus hundreds of highly divergent dialects, TNG is among the most numerous of the world’s language families.3 TNG languages are spoken from the Bomberai Pen- insula at the western end of mainland New Guinea (132 degrees E) almost to the eastern tip of the island (150 degrees E). Most of the cordillera that runs for more than 2000 kilometers along the centre of New Guinea is occupied exclusively by TNG languages. They are also prominent in much of the lowlands to the south of the cordillera and in patches to the north, especially from central Madang Province eastwards. There are possible outliers spoken on Timor, Alor and Pantar.
    [Show full text]