This book is a comprehensive and authoritative description of the Greater Awyu family of Papuan
languages. The book brings together many decades of research on Greater Awyu languages
including 10 years of field work by the author. The book presents a description of major
patterns found in languages of the family: phonology morphology syntax and discourse. In
addition major aspects of the anthropological linguistics of Greater Awyu languages are
described: counting systems language names kinship linguistic ideologies lexical
substitution registers avoidance and taboo. The linguistic patterns of Greater Awyu languages
are systematically placed in the genetic typological areal and historical contexts of New
Guinea. The long dialect continuums within the family by reflecting different diachronic
stages offer a window on the origin of switch reference clause chaining topic markers
postpositions and double-headed relative clauses. The book is relevant for readers interested
in the typological historical and cultural linguistics of New Guinea but also for
anthropologists and historians because the history and cultural practices of Greater Awyu
speakers are a key part of the story of this language family.
