Ku Waru by Francesca Merlan

Ku Waru by Francesca Merlan

The highlanders of New Guinea are renowned for their elaborate systems of ceremonial exchange. Although much has been written about them, previous accounts have concentrated far less on the conduct of exchange events than on the structure of exchange systems. This 1991 book deals centrally with the conduct of particular exchange events, and shows through examination of them how larger social structures are reproduced and transformed. As part of the emphasis on exchange as social action, the book closely examines the oratory that plays a crucial part in the events. Basing their study on original fieldwork carried out in the Nebilyer Valley, Francesca Merlan and Alan Rumsey focus on an inter related set of large-scale compensation payments which arose out of an episode of warfare. This book furthers our understanding of the interaction between social structures and historical events; and particularly of the crucial role of talk. It will be of special interest to anthropologists and linguists.

'… searching and brilliant re-assessment of social definition in the highlands' Roy Wagner, Oceania
'… Merlan and Rumsey have accomplished nothing less than a revolution in the understanding of Central New Guinea Highland sociality'. James F. Weiner, Man

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521323390
ISBN 10	0521323398
Title	Ku Waru
Author	Francesca Merlan
Series	Studies In The Social And Cultural Foundations Of Language
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	1991-03-29
Number of pages	410
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable