LECTURE | Prof. James L. Fox, June 4th

In his influential study, The Malay Archipelago, Alfred Russel Wallace was the first to declare that eastern Indonesia was notably different from the rest of the Indonesian archipelago. Since his time, numerous anthropologists and linguists have pointed to various pertinent differences that distinguish eastern Indonesia from what might be called ‘western Indonesia’. Currently eastern Indonesia’s position within the wider ‘Austronesian-speaking world’ is an issue of major concern. In this presentation, I want to review the assertions and arguments of these various commentators beginning with a look at the lesser recognized ‘Second Wallace Line’. When I have completed this review, I want to take my turn in defining critical differences but also the significant similarities of eastern Indonesia within Indonesia and, more importantly, within the Austronesian-speaking world. One of my intentions is to provide possible new perspectives on the movement of Austronesian populations into Oceania.

The lecture will take place on June 4th from 6 to 8 PM in Seminarraum at Werthmannstr. 10 1 OG