Languages
p. 18 · Read in the full issue
South Pacific
Dr. Capell Undertakes An Interesting Task
DR, A. CAPELL, who has been described as the world’s recognised authority on Oceanic languages, will under take the South Pacific Commission’s re search project on linguistics. This is one of the ten projects in Social Development approved by the Commission at its Mav session. Dr. Capell is Lecturer in Oceanic Languages at the University of Sydney.
The field of linguistics has been singu larly unco-ordinated in the South Pacific, points out Mr. H. E. Maude (Member for Social Development on the South Pacific Commission Research Council). A vest amoimt of work actually has been done on the native vernaculars; but it has been done usually by individual effort and not on a plan of systematic scientific study.
Before a mass campaign can be con ducted against illiteracy in the South Pacific area —such as is contemplated by the Commission —it is necessary to know the general linguistic picture, and the position as regards vernacular literature.
Dr. Capell’s intimate knowledge of all four maior native language groups of the area—Papuan. Melanesian.
Polynesian—fits him particularly well to guide the linguistic research. He is to be provided with technical assistance through Commission funds.
Mr. H. L. Schultze, who returned to Kavieng, New Guinea, in 1948, after hav ing spent the war years in Australia, arrived in Sydney in August on a brief visit. He is now in charge of a number of plantations in New Ireland.