Using Historical Linguistics to Describe Polynesian Ethnomycology1

Abstract

Descriptions of human and plant interactions at a local, regional, and global level drive the need for ethnobotanists to use tools from a variety of disciplines including paleoethnobtany, historical ecology, phylogenetics and historical linguistics. The comparative method from historical linguistics was used in this study to test the hypothesis: fungi were an important resource used by Polynesian peoples in the past, with little change in recent history. A comprehensive literature search of ethnographical works was undertaken to collate the various Polynesian terms for fungi. Corresponding terms for fungi, or cognates, were used to reconstruct words from the Proto Polynesian language, based on regular sound changes. Of the 117 terms for fungi found in 23 Polynesian languages, 25 cognates were used to reconstruct four (4) Proto Polynesian terms: three life form folk taxa *talinga, *seka and *limu and one folk generic *talinga kimoa. These Proto Polynesian terms were then compared to the modern lexicon to discuss the spatial and temporal use of fungi in Polynesia. Differences in the number of modern terms and evidence of binomials indicate changes in the perception and use of fungi in at least two cultures, New Zealand Mori and Marquesan. Results also suggest a wide distribution of the folk generic centered on the scientific genus Auricularia. Evidence of only one folk generic with morphological associations and a lack of subordinate folk taxa suggest that fungi were not a culturally salient resource to the Proto Polynesian peoples. Nevertheless, the presence of terms for macro fungi suggests obvious gross patterns of stem habit and bodily form were recognized. There are major limitations when using historical linguistics to describe the use of resources including the requirement for well recorded and closely related languages. Working with a linguist and encouraging researchers to ask more in-depth questions will go some way to combat these limitations. Further research is needed in the Cook Islands, Samoa, and the Marquesas to develop a clearer understanding of fungi as a resource in Polynesia.