Linguistic theories about the Austronesian homeland

Abstract

- hat establishing genetic relationship between languages leads \ to thinking about a "homeland" can hardly come as a surprise. For such a relationship can only be thought of as the result of develop- development from a common ancestor: a proto-language. That our knowledge ment of that proto-language may be very poor and that statements about it are mainly formulas of what is found as common elements in the actual language materials and, therefore, are of a highly hypothetical character, does not alter the fact that a real language must have existed. The question of where that proto-language was spoken, is only legitimate. And it is obvious that linguists are among those who try to find an answer to this question.