Dr. Margaret Florey
Qualifications and Positions
- PhD in Linguistics, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 1990
- Dissertation title "Language shift: Changing patterns of language allegiance in Western Seram"
- BA (First Class Honours) in Linguistics and Anthropology, University of Western Australia, 1983
- Thesis title "A review of the classification of Australian languages"
Research Areas
Areas of research interest include Austronesian languages (particularly those of eastern Indonesia), language endangerment, linguistic typology, anthropological linguistics and sociolinguistics.
Other
Current research project
Endangered Maluku languages: Eastern Indonesia and the Dutch diaspora
Research partners in this collaborative cross-linguistic project include Dr. Michael Ewing (University of Melbourne), Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Himmelmann (Ruhr-Universitt Bochum, Germany), Mw. Drs. Betty Litamahuputty (Max Planck Field Station, Jakarta, Indonesia), Dr. Simon Musgrave (Monash University).
The Maluku (Moluccas) islands in eastern Indonesia are notable for their high level of linguistic diversity, with approximately 42 Austronesian languages spoken in the 14 islands of Central Maluku. This diversity has been greatly threatened by a history of long-standing contact with non-indigenous peoples, colonisation, intensive trade, and conversion to non-indigenous religions. Maluku now has the highest level of language endangerment in Indonesia. Some speakers also remain among the large population of Moluccans who are resident in the Dutch diaspora.
From 2003-2007, the project team will
work in the homeland and in the diaspora to document four languages
of Central Maluku and to develop grammars, dictionaries, and language
learning materials for:
Allang -
southwest coastal Ambon island
Amahei, Makariki,
Soahuku, Ruta (Koako) - south central Seram Island
Haruku - Haruku Island, to the east of
Ambon Island
Tenga-tenga, Tial, Tulehu, Liang
and Waai - at the eastern end of Ambon island.
This project incorporates the training of indigenous linguists and Community Language Workers (speakers and their descendants). A series of intensive in-country workshops will be held to provide training in language documentation techniques to support language renewal and language maintenance initiatives.
This collaborative research project is funded by
- The Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project
http://www.hrelp.org/ - Australian Research Council
http://www.arc.gov.au/ - Monash University Faculty of Arts
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/
For further information on the Maluku project:
Ph: +61 (3) 9905 2237
Fax: +61 (0)3 9905-8492
Email: Maluku@arts.monash.edu.au
Web Site: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/linguistics/maluku/
Contact
Dr Margaret Florey
Linguistics
Program
School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
Building 11
Monash University
Victoria
3800
Australia
Ph: +61 (3) 9905 2237
Fax: +61 (3) 9905 5437
Email: Margaret.Florey@arts.monash.edu.au