Time perspective in Aboriginal Australian culture: two approaches to the origin of subsections

Abstract

Examines use of linguistic evidence in cultural history as exemplified by development of subsections in Northern Australia; follows scientific tradition of Sapir; uses evidence from cognate subsection terms, conformity with phonetic laws particularly lenition in Ngumbin; Djamindjungan and Djeragan language groups; hypothesis on origin of subsections using evidence from myths; opposes von Brandensteins ruling idea of temperamental classification of subsections; criticises methodology of phonosemantics and semantic links which ignore borrowings