Trans-New Guinea Phylum Research Articles

Recent kuru-induced female gene flow disrupted the coevolution of genes and languages in the Papua New Guinea highlands.

The island of New Guinea was settled by modern human over 50,000 years ago, and is currently characterized by a complex landscape and contains one-seventh of the world's languages. The Eastern Highlands of New Guinea were also the home to the devastating prion disease called kuru that primarily affected Fore-speaking populations, with some 68% of cases involving adult females. We characterized the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity of highlanders from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to: (a) gain insight into the coevolution of genes and languages in situ over mountainous landscapes; and (b) evaluate the recent influence of kuru mortality on the pattern of female gene flow. We sequenced the mtDNA hypervariable segment 1 of 870 individuals from the Eastern and Southern Highlands of PNG using serums collected in the 1950s to 1960s. These highlanders were selected from villages representing 15 linguistic groups within the Trans-New Guinea phylum. Genetic, linguistic, and geographic distances were calculated separately and correlations among those distance matrices were assessed using the Mantel test. Geographic, genetic, and linguistic patterns were independently correlated with each other (p < .05). Increased mtDNA diversity in kuru-affected populations and low Fst estimates between kuru-affected linguistic groups were observed. In general, the genetic structure among the Highland populations was shaped by both geography and language, and language is a good predictor of mtDNA affinity in the PNG Highlands. High kuru female mortality increased female gene flow locally, disrupting coevolutionary pattern among genes, languages, and geography.

Austronesians in linguistic disguise: Fataluku cultural fusion in East Timor

AbstractThis 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.

Y‐STR haplotype diversity in distinct linguistic groups from East Timor

East Timor is a country which harbors multiple ethnolinguistic groups generally assigned to an Austronesian or Papuan ancestry. The present study aimed to characterize Y-chromosome haplotype diversity in East Timor, and to test possible population structures based on linguistic and/or geographical information. Using a set of 12 Y-chromosome-specific STRs (DYS19, DYS389I and II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385, DYS437, DYS438, and DYS439), haplotypes were established in 342 individuals from 12 linguistic groups (Tetum, Kwaimina, Galoli, Wetarese, Dawan, Mambai, Kemak, Tokodede, Bunak, Makasai, Makalero, and Fataluku) belonging to the three major ethnolinguistic groups in East Timor: two from the Timorese-Austronesian branch (Fabronic and Ramelaic), and a third including languages related to a Trans-New Guinea phylum (Papuan). High values of haplotype diversity, average gene diversity, and mean number of pairwise differences per locus were found in all 12 linguistic groups, except for the Wetarese from the island of Ataúro. Analysis of genetic variance (AMOVA) and pairwise genetic distance analysis showed that the East Timor population is genetically structured, and if the Bunak and Wetarese are excluded, samples group well with respect to their language affinities, and furthermore, the most genetically homogeneous groups are those following the broad ethnolinguistic classifications. Bunak and Wetarese behave as outsider groups, and are genetically more closely related to populations classified in a different linguistic group.

Engan pronouns and their old endings*

The Engan Family of languages includes a number of languages and dialects that are part of the Trans New Guinea Phylum (TNGP) languages, a subgroup of the large and tentative group referred to as ‘Papuan’ languages. Such languages generally have a system of free pronominal forms which occur in cross‐reference with fused verb suffixes. I examine the free forms in particular and draw attention to the reflexes and retentions of old endings in present day pronouns. I then attempt to reconstruct the basic forms and their endings for Proto‐Engan. Because the evidence for sets of old endings goes beyond their use in Engan, I examine a number of languages which are located adjacent to the family as well. Finally, I briefly give evidence that there are other endings reflected in Papuan languages that are found on word classes other than pronouns.

Altitude, language, and class I HLA allele frequencies in Papua New Guinea.

Class I HLA gene frequencies show considerable variation over short geographical distances in Papua New Guinea. Hypothesis to account for this invoke natural selection, population structure, the pattern of population movement, or past demographic changes. To determine the role of the various factors in shaping this distribution, we have studied correlations between HLA-based genetic distances, geographical distances, altitude, and linguistic differences in Papua New Guinea. Linguistic differences at the family or stock level within the Trans-New Guinea Phylum generally correspond to genetic differences. However, on the basis of their HLA gene frequencies, speakers of Austronesian (AN) languages do not form a distinct group of populations. Linguistic variation and spatial autocorrelation do not fully account for the altitudinal cline differences noted in gene frequencies, particularly at the HLA-A locus. We propose that the distribution of HLA gene frequencies in Papua New Guinea is partially under the control of selection operating differentially along the altitude gradient.

HLA studies of highland and coastal New Guineans

The HLA profile of three New Guinean populations, two Highland (Asaro, Watut), and one Coastal is presented. The Highland populations are characterized by a low average number of alleles segregating at the HLA loci and also by a low mean value of heterozygosity at these loci. The genetic affinities of the two Highland groups with other Melanesian populations in the Pacific are remote. The Coastal group, on the other hand, shows strong similarities in its antigenic diversity and haplotypic combinations with other Melanesian populations. Nonetheless, the two Highland groups show significant divergence from each other in terms of allelic and haplotypic frequencies. Two different waves of migration settled in the Highlands of New Guinea between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago, and it is possible that the Watut, an Angan speaking group, represents the remnants of the first migration into the interior, whereas the Asaro, members of the Eastern Central family of the Trans-New Guinea phylum, arrived at a later date.

The peopling of the Pacific:A Linguistic Appraisal∗

and classifying the 1,800 odd languages in the Pacific area.1 Although progress has been rapid, there are still big gaps in our knowledge of these languages which will prevent the formulation of definitive statements, especially detailed appraisals, for some years. It is a sobering thought that of the 200 odd Australian languages2 we have detailed information on only about half; of the 741 Papuan languages3 we are reasonably certain of one large genetic grouping (linguistically speaking), the Trans-New Guinea Phylum, but not really certain as to the genetic affinities of the not inconsiderable remainder (33%). Indeed fewer than one-third of all Pa puan languages have been studied in any depth at all. On the Austronesian scene we appear to be moving towards a consensus on highest order subgroup ings. However, one of the largest subgroups of Austronesian, the Oceanic subgroup, with more than 400 member languages, is still very problematic in that at present we are still not sure what its component first-order subgroups are. Currently we have only an unstratified collection of languages broken up into roughly 20 subgroups.4 Of the 400 or more Oceanic languages we lack any but the most fragmentary data on more than half. Even in Polynesia, where subgrouping has appeared secure for some time, there are still a number of unresolved issues.5 Nevertheless while many problems remain to be solved and unqualified generalizations are to be avoided, the work of linguists, particularly in the last few decades, allows some confident statements and appraisals to be made con cerning language relationships in the Pacific area. There are three unrelated language categories or 'families' in the Pacific area.6 These are: 1. The Australian Aboriginal languages.

: A Comparative Study of Kuman and Pawaian . D. Trefry. ; The Dialects of Kewa . K. J. Franklin. ; A Grammar of Kewa, New Guinea . K. J. Franklin. ; Kapau Pedagogical Grammar . W. Oates, L. Oates. ; Levels and Chaining in Telefol Sentences . P. L. Healey. ; The Peopling of Central Papua: Some Preliminary Observations

American AnthropologistVolume 76, Issue 3 p. 638-641 Free Access BOOK REVIEWS First published: September 1974 https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1974.76.3.02a00660AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Book reviewed in this article: A Comparative Study of Human and Pawaian. D. TREFRY The Dialects of Kewa. K. J. FRANKLIN A Grammar of Kewa, New Guinea. K. J. FRANKLIN Kapau Pedagogical Grammar. W. OATES and L. OATES Levels and Chaining in Telefol Sentences. P. L. HEALEY The Peopling of Central Papua: Some Preliminary Observations. T. E. DUTTON Selepet Phonology. K. A. McELHANON Selepet-English Dictionary. K. A. McELHANON and N. A. McELHANON The Trans-New Guinea Phylum: Explorations in Deep-Level Genetic Relationships. K. A. McELHANON and C. L. VOORHOEVE Volume76, Issue3September 1974Pages 638-641 RelatedInformation