Response to Adriani & Kruyt (1914) About the Features of South Halmahera - West New Guinea Feature

DOI

https://doi.org/10.2991/prasasti-19.2019.13How to use a DOI?

Keywords

phonological feature; basic vocabulary; culture vocabulary; top-down approach.

Abstract

This article intends to respond to the views of Dutch Scholars Adriani and Kruyt (1914) on the two phonological characteristics of South Halmahera-West New Guinea (SHWG). Methodologically the interview method was used to collect 200 basic vocabulary and 500 cultural vocabulary in six South Halmahera languages (Buli, Maba, Sawai, Gane, Taba, and Gebe), Amber, Maya (in Raja Ampat), and Biak languages. Data were analyzed using a top-down approach by looking at the realization of Proto-Austronesia (PAN) in these languages. The results of identification studies show that the final vocal removal in the SHWG languages occurs regularly but that change does not occur in all its members. For example, in the etymon *pija ‘how many’ and *pica ‘when’ in the Amber and Maya languages the vocal *a is still retained. In certain etymons, which are limited in number, there are final vowels that do not disappear but experience retention and innovation in the majority of SHWG members. For example, in etymon *ini, *gusi, *au, *kaSu, *siwa, *NiSawa, and *isa. The changes referred to are found in etymons which have the final vocals *i, *u, and *a. Second, it is different from the second feature regarding the removal of the middle position in the initial pressured word. From the data collected, this change is limited in number so that it cannot be used as a dominant feature of SHWG. Therefore, further studies need to be done on this matter.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.