Processes of change in the languages of North-western New Britain

Abstract

The people in numerous villages of north-western New Britain invested many thousands of hours of work helping Rick Goulden and me to record th e data on which this work is based.Even though we could seldom send advance warning of our plans to descend upon their villages, we were always graciously provided with accommodation and the best hospitality.Many people in each village we visited took part in the actual elicitation sessions, but even th ose who were only observers often provided fo od, water, wood for our fires and other things to make us comfortable.We are thankful to all these people fo r taking us into their homes and sharing their lives with us.Although it would be impossible to list all the people in northwestern New Britain who helped, I would like to thank a fe w special people: Marcus Benedict Geti So lou, Maria Datima, Ngaloko, and Yakob Mua provided th e bulk of Lusi data.Solou introduced us to the village of Upmadung and kept us up all night laughing at naughty stories.Solou and Maria took us into th eir home in Kandoka, escorted us through the leeches to Lamogai where we told ghost stories, and looked after many of our travel arrangements up and down the coast.Avel lead us to Bolo, Salkei and Denga; and "Ko ngkong" was our guide to Lumusi.Hendrik Sasalo Kunang has had some input into just about everything I know about Anem; he and Pius Bogi once got us drunk on a canoe trip fr om Kokopo to Pudeling.Both the sunset and the sea were particularly beautiful , and "Marasin" danced a welcome with us under th e moonlight that night when we appeared barefoot fr om the mangrove claiming to be eni niak.Andreus Atulai, Pita Bubulunga, Giranda Ensi, Klara Iona, Yosep Kaloga, Hendrik Piakai, Leo Sakail, and Paulus Ualasuang patiently explained the details of their language and the significance of traditional Anem stories.Talania sang Sia fo r us while teaching Rick Kilenge.Chris Aipuli, Paul Kalolo and his wife Teresia, and Geti Ngauma were always there when we wanted to know more about Kabana.Peter Lingaso and his fa ther Gamaua are responsible fo r most of what we know about Amara.I miss th em all.Bubulunga, Kalau, Koroi and Parasai will be missed fo rever.v vi Rick Goulden, who first became involved in this ongoing project in 1978 as a friend and research assistant, quickly became a co-researcher and has been involved in all aspects of the project from initial planning to data recording and analysis.While we collected data in most languages together, he has performed all the analysis on the languages of the Siasi group, and has allowed me to use it freely.Throughout the analysis of the data and the preparation of this manuscript, Rick has been intensely supportive.While in New Britain, he was a little bit of home to keep me relatively sane; since our return to Canada he helps me remember the people I miss in New Britain.Naomi Scaletta shared her house, her mind (ele saoa?), her swimming hole and her rubber tyre with us in Kokopo, even after the abortive attempt to tell the story of Cinderella in Tok Pisin.Lynn Stewart-Dillon, the all-weather anthropologist, provided the information needed to sort out Maleu, Lolo and Idne as well as hours of stimulating dialogue on these comparatively little-known interior people.

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