Foreword

Taking big strides, opening big doors

Of all the known resources holding academic value on this precious island known as Taiwan, the most valuable subject of study in the humanities and social sciences, is the indigenous people. The aborigines are citizens, not specimens – to say they are subjects to be studied is somewhat denigrating. Having said that, we are all objects of scientific research. Scholars in the fields of anthropology, anatomy and a number of other sciences have conducted research on all of us both as individuals and as groups.

The value of researching Taiwan's aborigines is in their singularity.

Taiwan is home to approximately 400,000 indigenous peoples speaking languages in the Austronesian family: more than 20 that can still be clearly distinguished. This is the highest concentration of Austronesian languages in a single location, also boasting the greatest differentiation among the languages spoken. Over the past two decades, historians and linguists have adopted the theory that the birthplace of a language is the region with the greatest differentiation (in dialect or language) and the greatest variety. In the past, linguists have diverged on the question of whether differentiation among Austronesian languages is greater in Taiwan or New Guinea. Recently, however, Austronesian linguists have begun to lean toward Taiwan as the place with the most complexity, beginning a trend whereby Taiwan is now recognized as the homeland of the Austronesian family of languages. Paul Jen-kuei Li, author of the following collection of essays, is one of the proponents of this theory. As Taiwan is now recognized to be the birthplace of the Austronesian family of languages –

and there is a need to reconstruct the ancient culture of Austronesian speaking peoples – the task of reconstructing the ancient culture of Taiwan's aborigines, or the prehistoric culture of the Austronesians, has become an important one for Taiwan-based archeologists. This is also where linguistics and archeology converge.

As a Taiwanese archaeologist, I have always been very interested in Paul Li's scholastic endeavors. Prior to reading this book, I didn't fully grasp the breadth or depth of Li's research. After some cogitation it became clear to me that this was because my previous perception of linguistics was quite narrow. Much like many other sciences, the scope of modern linguistics has expanded outward to become all-embracing.

It is now as much philosophic as it is scientific. The essays by Paul Li selected for this book provide only a blueprint for historical linguistics and pragmatics, yet it is this very blueprint that has given me so much inspiration. With topics such as the significance of Austronesian terminology among Taiwan's indigenous groups; the legend of the dwarves as it pertains to Austronesian languages; and different words

for sea vessels among the Austronesian languages of Taiwan, the origins of Austronesian peoples and the implications thereof are so thought provoking that they lead us to questions that even Li didn't ask. Finally, regarding the question of seafaring terminology, I often wonder: if the aborigines settled in Taiwan 10,000 years ago, when the island was still connected to the mainland, and gradually became bound by the ocean on all four sides, they wouldn't have needed a boat in the first place. This

kind of thinking is equal to treason, but it is exactly this type of mutinous thinking that Li encourages.

Linguistics is like this, as are the other fields of study. Historiography, anthropology, archeology and other related sciences have become all-inclusive, adding to the equation a number of mutually incompatible theories and methods. When making our small contribution to the oeuvre, it is imperative that we don't constrict their movement. This could very possibly put us out on a limb, or even derail the entire theory altogether. Taking big strides, making big statements, opening big doors.

As long as you don't lose sight of the details, your conclusion should corroborate your brave new theory.

Chang Kwang-chih

February 21, 1996

Chang Kwang-chih graduated from the Departments of Archeology and Anthropology, National Taiwan University, in 1954. He went on to receive his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Following that, Chang taught in a professorial capacity at Harvard and Yale, in their respective Department of Anthropology. He quickly became an international authority on archeology, The Archaeology of Ancient China being the

opus that brought him to the fore.

Foreword

Taking big strides, opening big doors

Of all the known resources holding academic value on this precious island known as Taiwan, the most valuable subject of study in the humanities and social sciences, is the indigenous people. The aborigines are citizens, not specimens – to say they are subjects to be studied is somewhat denigrating. Having said that, we are all objects of scientific research. Scholars in the fields of anthropology, anatomy and a number of other sciences have condu...

Table of Contents

Foreword by Chang Kwang-chih
Preface from the first edition by Li, Paul Jen-kuei
Preface from the second edition by Li, Paul Jen-kuei

Part One Origins and Migration
Chapter 1 The Homeland of the Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan
Chapter 2 Migratory history of the Austronesians in Taiwan
Chapter 3 Distribution of Austronesian Languages and Migration of Austronesians in Taiwan
Chapter 4 Origins and Early Migration of Indigenous Groups in Eastern Taiwan
Chapter 5 Prehistoric Culture of the Austronesians
Chapter 6 Seafaring Terminology Common Among the Austronesian Languages of Taiwan
Chapter 7 Regarding the legend of the dwarves among the Austronesians of Taiwan

Part Two Preservation and Development
Chapter 1 The Importance of Taiwan, as Seen from the Diversity of Species and Ethnic Groups
Chapter 2 Cherishing Languages without a Writing System
Chapter 3 Taiwan's Pioneers of Linguistics
Chapter 4 Review of Techniques for Compiling a Dictionary of an Austronesian Language Specific to Taiwan
Chapter 5 Some Essentials for Teaching Native Languages of the Aborigines
Chapter 6 Going the Trek Alone
Addendum The Father of Austronesian Linguistics in Taiwan

Table of Contents

Foreword by Chang Kwang-chih
Preface from the first edition by Li, Paul Jen-kuei
Preface from the second edition by Li, Paul Jen-kuei

Part One Origins and Migration
Chapter 1 The Homeland of the Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan
Chapter 2 Migratory history of the Austronesians in Taiwan
Chapter 3 Distribution of Austronesian Languages and Migration of Austronesians in Taiwan
Chapter 4 Origins and Early Migration of Indigenous Groups in Eastern Taiwan
Chapter 5 Prehistor...