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Chapter 3. Dual heritage

The story of Riau Indonesian and its relatives
  • David Gil
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
Austronesian Undressed
This chapter is in the book Austronesian Undressed

Abstract

How and why did Riau Indonesian acquire its isolating profile? Its isolating structure may traced back continuously through a series of increasingly large language networks – Malay/Indonesian koinés, Malay/Indonesian in general, Malayic, Western Nusantara, and the Mekong-Mamberamo linguistic area – thereby refuting claims that it is the product of a recent event of creolisation. Riau Indonesian and its relatives exhibit dual heritage: Austronesian and Mekong-Mamberamo. From an Austronesian perspective, the isolating profile developed when Austronesian languages first spread into Nusantara, as a result of contact with the languages that were already present in the region. However, from a Mekong-Mamberamo point of view, the isolating structure may be viewed as the outcome of vertical inheritance dating back as far as we can see.

Abstract

How and why did Riau Indonesian acquire its isolating profile? Its isolating structure may traced back continuously through a series of increasingly large language networks – Malay/Indonesian koinés, Malay/Indonesian in general, Malayic, Western Nusantara, and the Mekong-Mamberamo linguistic area – thereby refuting claims that it is the product of a recent event of creolisation. Riau Indonesian and its relatives exhibit dual heritage: Austronesian and Mekong-Mamberamo. From an Austronesian perspective, the isolating profile developed when Austronesian languages first spread into Nusantara, as a result of contact with the languages that were already present in the region. However, from a Mekong-Mamberamo point of view, the isolating structure may be viewed as the outcome of vertical inheritance dating back as far as we can see.

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