PROJECTS OF THE IUA

The Language Atlas of the Pacific Area has as its aim the graphic presentation, on 47 large multi-coloured maps, of the extremely complex language situation in the Pacific Area proper and the regions adjacent to it in the west which together contain about 2,000 languages, with thousands of dialects. Over 1,000 of these languages are located in the New Guinea area. Text materials showing the grouping and classification of the languages and dialects and the numbers of their speakers, appropriate explanations and notes and bibliographical data, were added to each map, and general texts and indexes accompany the map sets covering various areas. The maps have been combined into two Atlas parts, Part I covering the Pacific Area proper and Part II areas to the west of it. Both parts are now completed and were published in 1981 and 1983 respectively by the Australian Academy of the Humanities in collaboration with the Japan Academy. There has been very strong involvement of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies of The Australian National University, Canberra, in this project, especially through its Departments of Linguistics and Human Geography.

The project was adopted by the UAI in 1979 on the initiative of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and the Japan Academy, as a Category C project.

Directed by the Australian Academy of the Humanities in collaboration with the Japan Academy. Directors : S.A. Wurm1979-2001 and S. Hattori 1979-1983, D. Tryon 2001-