The main aims of this work are to establish the status of the Austronesian languages of the Markham Valley and its hinterland and of the upper Ramu Valley in Papua New Guinea, in relation to other languages of the Oceanic group, and to delineate their sub-groupings. Descriptions of the phonologies and morphosyntactic systems are provided as the basis for the comparative analysis. A reconstruction of the history of these languages is attempted, using the available linguistic, historical, social and geographical information. The comparative method is used to investigate the relationships between these languages. The material for the study consists of phonological, rnorphosyntactic and lexico-semantic data collected by the writer in the field. Sociolinguistic, cultural and oral historical information was also collected and used as supplementary evidence. Chapter 1 introduces the topics for investigation and outlines the conventions used in the thesis. In Chapter 2 are presented some theoretical considerations, a review of previous work on Markham languages, and an outllne of the methodology used fn data collection and analysis. Chapter 3 presents the Markham language communities in their geographical and social context. The social background of the societies is given in some detail because the languages and their history cannot be considered apart from this social context. The main linguistic data upon which this work is based is presented in Chapter 4 Phonology, and Chapter 5 Morphosyntax. In Chapter 4 are brief phonological sketches of each of the Markham languages. After a discussion of previous reconstructions of Proto Oceanic and Proto Huon Gulf, a reconstruction of the phonology of Proto Markham is outlined, and supporting evidence for the reconstructions is given. Chapter 5 consists of analyses, comparisons and reconstructions of aspects of the Markham languages' morphosyntax. In Chapter 6 the comparisons and contrasts presented in the previous two chapters are drawn together, and the evidence for the internal unity and genetic relationship of the Markham languages is given in detail. Hypotheses about the sub-grouping of the languages are outlined, and evidence supporting these hypotheses is presented. Chapter 7 concludes the study with a summary of the findings. The evidence supports the proposition that the Markham languages form an internally consistent, genetically related unit which is descended from Proto Oceanic, through Proto Huon Gulf. It consists of three groups - Upper Markham, Watut and Lower Markham, of which the Upper Markham and Lower Markham groups are further divided into several sub-groupings. The history of the Markham languages is outlined, and evidence supporting this scenario is provided from linguistics, from oral histories, cultural data and geographical sources.

The book presents a series of ethnographic studies, which illustrate issues of wider importance, such as the role of cultural traditions, concepts and learning procedures in the development of formal (or mathematical) thinking outside of the western tradition. It focuses on research at the crossroads of anthropology and ethnomathematics to document indigenous mathematical knowledge and its inclusion in specific cultural patterns. More generally, the book demonstrates the heuristic value of crossing ethnographical, anthropological and ethnomathematical approaches to highlight and analyze—or "formalize" with a pedagogical outlook—indigenous mathematical knowledge. The book is divided into three parts. The first part extensively analyzes theoretical claims using particular ethnographic data, while revealing the structural mathematical features of different ludic, graphic, or technical/procedural practices in their links to other cultural phenomena. In the second part, new empirical studies that add data and perspectives from the body of studies on indigenous knowledge systems to the ongoing discussions in mathematics education in and for diverse cultural traditions are presented. This part considers, on the one hand, the Brazilian work in this field; on the other hand, it brings ethnographic innovation from other parts of the world. The third part comprises a broad philosophical discussion of the impact of intuitive or "ontological" premises on mathematical thinking and education in the light of recent developments within so-called indigenously inspired thinking. Finally, the editors’ conclusions aim to invite the broad and diversified field of scholars in this domain of research to seek alternative approaches for understanding mathematical reasoning and the adjacent adequate educational goals and means. This book is of interest to scholars and students in anthropology, ethnomathematics, history and philosophy of science, mathematics, and mathematics education, as well as other individuals interested in these topics.

This unique volume presents an ecocultural and embodied perspective on understanding numbers and their history in indigenous communities. The book focuses on research carried out in Papua New Guinea and Oceania, and will help educators understand humanity's use of numbers, and their development and change. The authors focus on indigenous mathematics education in the early years and shine light on the unique processes and number systems of non-European styled cultural classrooms. This new perspective for mathematics education challenges educators who have not heard about the history of number outside of Western traditions, and can help them develop a rich cultural competence in their own practice and a new vision of foundational number concepts such as large numbers, groups, and systems. Featured in this invaluable resource are some data and analyses that chief researcher Glendon Angove Lean collected while living in Papua New Guinea before his death in 1995. Among the topics covered: The diversity of counting system cycles, where they were established, and how they may have developed. A detailed exploration of number systems other than base 10 systems including: 2-cycle, 5-cycle, 4- and 6-cycle systems, and body-part tally systems. Research collected from major studies such as Geoff Smith's and Sue Holzknecht’s studies of Morobe Province's multiple counting systems, Charly Muke's study of counting in the Wahgi Valley in the Jiwaka Province, and Patricia Paraide's documentation of the number and measurement knowledge of her Tolai community. The implications of viewing early numeracy in the light of this book’s research, and ways of catering to diversity in mathematics education. In this volume Kay Owens draws on recent research from diverse fields such as linguistics and archaeology to present their exegesis on the history of number reaching back ten thousand years ago. Researchers and educators interested in the history of mathematical sciences will find History of Number: Evidence from Papua New Guinea and Oceania to be an invaluable resource.

The volume contains five background chapters: The Oceanic Languages, Sociolinguistic Background, Typological Overview, Proto-Oceanic and Internal Subgrouping. Part of 2 vol set. Author Ross from ANU.

This ethnographic dictionary is the result of Hans Fischer’s long-term fieldwork among the Wampar, who occupy the middle Markham Valley in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Their language, Dzob Wampar, belongs to the Markham family of the Austronesian languages. Today most Wampar speak not only Wampar but also PNG’s lingua franca, Tok Pisin. Six decades of Wampar research has documented the extent and speed of change in the region. Today, mining, migration and the commodification of land are accelerating the pace of change in Wampar communities, resulting in great individual differences in knowledge of the vernacular. This dictionary covers largely forgotten Wampar expressions as well as loanwords from German and Jabêm that have become part of everyday language. Most entries contain example sentences from original Wampar texts. The dictionary is complemented by an overview of ethnographic research among Wampar, a sketch of Wampar grammar, a bibliography and an English-to-Wampar finder list.