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Austronesians in linguistic disguise: Fataluku cultural fusion in East Timor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2007

Andrew McWilliam*
Affiliation:
Andrew McWilliam is a Fellow in the Department of Anthropology, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University.
*
Correspondence in connection with this paper should be addressed to andrew.mcwilliam@anu.edu.au.

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between language and cultural practice in the Fataluku language community of East Timor. A Papuan language and member of what is referred to as the Trans New Guinea Phylum (TNGP) of languages, Fataluku society nevertheless exhibits many cultural ideas and practices suggesting a long period of engagement and accommodation to Austronesian cosmopolitanism. The idea that Fataluku speakers are ‘Austronesians in disguise’ points to the significance of cultural hybridity on the Austronesian boundary.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 2007

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