Studies in Language Change

is the imprint of the Centre for Research in Language Change of the Australian National University. The series is published jointly with the Centre by Pacific Linguistics. The following titles have now
been published:

From linguistic to sociolinguistic reconstruction:
The Kamta historical subgroup of Indo-Aryan

The Indo-Aryan languages and dialects constitute a dialect continuum, characterised by variable, non-discrete boundaries between speech communities. In order to reconstruct linguistic history it is necessary to take stock of this sociolinguistic context and adjust the methods of reconstruction accordingly. This study presents a theoretically robust, sociolinguistic framework for historical reconstruction ....
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Worrorran revisited:
the case for genetic relations among lanauges of the Northern Kimberley region of Western Australia

In this book we attempt to establish the genetic relatedness of a set of some twenty named regional speech varieties of the Northern Kimberley region of Western Australia . We argue that, contrary to recent claims by some scholars, they constitute a genetic family-like unit.
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The Non-Pama-Nyungan languages of northern Australia:
Comparative studies of the continent's most linguistically complex region
Edited by Nicholas Evans
PL 552/SLC 3
See out-of-print catalogue

A landmark publication in Australian linguistics, this volume illustrates that - despite recent claims by some authors - the comparative method can be successfully applied to Australian languages. It also furnishes a number of detailed and intricate studies of morphological reconstruction applied to complex paradigms.
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A Handbook of Comparative Bahnaric, volume 1: West Bahnaric
Paul Sidwell and Pascale Jacq.
PL 551/SLC 2

This book is the first in a series of monographs that present a reconstruction of the phonology and lexicon of each sub-group of the Bahnaric family, and a consolidated reconstruction of Proto Bahnaric. The reconstruction offered here includes 1094 sets of lexical comparisons, with reconstructed proto-forms and extensive etymological commentary.
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A study of valency-changing devices in Proto Oceanic
Bethwyn Evans
PL 539/SLC 1

Many Oceanic Austronesian languages have several valency-changing devices. This work is an historical study of three valency-increasing and two valency-decreasing morphemes, presenting a detailed reconstruction of their forms and functions in the ancestor language, Proto Oceanic. The reconstructions of valency-changing devices is presented within of an analysis of morphosyntactic classes of verbs, both in the modern languages and in Proto Oceanic.
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Pacific Linguistics
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200
AUSTRALIA

Last modified: February 1, 2010
Authorised by: The Managing Editors, Pacific Linguistics
Copyright © 1996-2004, The Australian National University
Maintained by: Julie Manley, Julie.Manley@anu.edu.au, and Wayan Arka, Wayan.Arka@anu.edu.au