Cross-linguistic study of endangered Maluku languages: Eastern Indonesia and the Dutch diaspora

  • Florey, Margaret (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
  • Musgrave, Simon (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Himmelmann, Nikolaus P. (Partner Investigator (PI))

Project: Research

Project Details

Project Description

This project represents the first large scale investigation of Eastern Indonesian languages, and assembles an international team to examine language evolution through the interface between linguistic typology, language contact and language shift. This ground-breaking work includes a cross-linguistic analysis of structural features in ten Central Moluccan languages. It will test current theories of contact and shift through an innovative comparative analysis of data from speakers in the homeland and the Dutch diaspora. Outcomes will include grammars of six undescribed languages and crucial new insights about language cognition and simplification. Improved knowledge of this closely-neighbouring region will strengthen Australia's Asia-Pacific relations.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/01/0330/01/08

Funding

  • Australian Research Council (ARC): A$38,964.00
  • Australian Research Council (ARC): A$193,036.00
  • Monash University