Blust and the Greater North Borneo Hypothesis

BORNEOTRAVEL - JAKARTA: In 1969, Robert Blust introduced a groundbreaking concept that would change the way we understand the linguistic landscape of Southeast Asia and beyond. 

Blust identified the North Sarawak subgroup of Austronesian languages, which was characterized by a distinctive phonological change. This change involved the split of Proto-Austronesian (PAN) voiced obstruents into two series: a ‘plain’ series of voiced obstruents and another, phonetically complex series. The latter included the development of implosives, true voiced aspirates, and unexpected changes like *b transforming into *s.

The Birth of the Greater North Borneo Hypothesis: A Groundbreaking Discovery

Blust’s discovery initially pointed to a deeper connection between the languages of North Sarawak and other languages in the region. This led him to propose that these languages were part of a larger group that could include not only languages from Borneo but also those from surrounding areas. His 1974 and 1998 works further elaborated on this theory, suggesting that the languages of Northern Borneo, including those in Sabah, should be viewed as part of a larger linguistic family. This was the beginning of the Greater North Borneo Hypothesis, which connects the languages of Borneo to a larger, broader network of Austronesian languages.

Despite its initial promise, the North Sarawak and Greater North Borneo hypotheses received limited attention in the broader context of Austronesian subgrouping. Scholars focused on the absence of well-established subgroups in regions like western Indonesia, often overlooking these important connections. Nevertheless, Blust’s work laid the foundation for a more inclusive understanding of linguistic relationships in the region.

Geography and the Role of Migration in Language Formation

One of the core aspects of Blust’s theory revolves around the role of geography in shaping the development of language families. He argued that linguistic subgroupings are not only determined by shared innovations but also by the geographical factors that influence migration patterns. In the Malay Archipelago, geography played a crucial role in determining the direction of Austronesian speakers’ migrations.

The geography of Southeast Asia, with its vast network of islands and seas, dictated the migration routes of early Austronesian speakers. The Philippines, as the most likely center of origin, was the first stop for Austronesian speakers. From there, these speakers expanded southward into Borneo, Sulawesi, and Halmahera. Each of these regions offered new opportunities for linguistic diversification, resulting in the formation of distinct language families.

In Borneo, the settlement process began along the coasts, where marine resources were readily accessible. Over time, however, populations began moving inland, creating new dialects and languages influenced by the island’s diverse geography. The interior of Borneo, with its mountainous terrain and river systems, became a natural barrier that led to the further diversification of languages. Blust argued that this geographic separation played a significant role in shaping the linguistic landscape of Borneo, contributing to the development of distinct language groups.

The Western and Eastern Borneo Divide: A Key to Linguistic Divergence

Blust’s theory suggests that the physical geography of Borneo played a crucial role in the divergence of languages within the island. The island’s compact landmass and difficult terrain created a sharp divide between populations that followed coastal routes along the South China Sea and those who settled along the Celebes Sea. This geographical split facilitated the emergence of distinct linguistic groups on the western and eastern sides of the island.

The western side of Borneo, which faced the South China Sea, was the first area to be settled by Austronesian speakers. These early settlers followed the coastline, and over time, populations spread inland, creating new languages and dialects. On the eastern side of the island, speakers followed a similar pattern, settling along the Celebes Sea coast before expanding inland.

As populations moved further inland, the linguistic differences between the two regions became more pronounced. Over time, these distinct groups developed their own unique languages, shaped by their respective geographic environments. The divide between the western and eastern sides of Borneo became a key factor in the linguistic diversification seen on the island.

A Broader Linguistic Connection: Greater North Borneo and Beyond

The Greater North Borneo Hypothesis goes beyond Borneo itself, connecting the island’s languages to a much larger linguistic family. Blust’s theory posits that the languages of Northern Borneo are part of a broader group that includes languages spoken in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and other parts of Southeast Asia. These languages share a common ancestral origin and have developed parallel features as they spread across the region.

The Malayo-Chamic languages, spoken in the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, are a key component of this larger group. These languages share several linguistic features with the languages of Northern Borneo, indicating that they were once part of a common population. Additionally, languages spoken by the Moken people, the Rejang people, and the Sundanese people also belong to the Greater North Borneo family.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Blust’s theory is its suggestion that the linguistic connections within Greater North Borneo extend even farther, reaching the island of Madagascar. Malagasy, the language spoken in Madagascar, is related to the languages of Borneo and Southeast Asia, further cementing the idea that Austronesian-speaking populations once spanned a vast geographical area. The inclusion of Malagasy in this linguistic family highlights the far-reaching migration patterns of early Austronesian speakers.

Linguistic Innovations and Shared Features: Tracing the Connections

A central element of Blust’s hypothesis is the identification of lexical innovations and structural features that are shared across the Greater North Borneo languages. These innovations provide crucial evidence of a common linguistic ancestry, helping to trace the connections between languages in this vast region. One such innovation is the consistent transformation of the *pitu root for “seven” across the languages of Borneo, as well as in the languages of Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and even Madagascar. This shared innovation points to a common origin and reinforces the idea that these languages once formed a unified group.

In addition to lexical innovations, structural features such as phonological changes and syntactic developments further support the existence of a Greater North Borneo linguistic family. For example, the development of implosives and voiced aspirates in North Sarawak languages is mirrored in other languages across the region. These shared features suggest that the languages of Greater North Borneo evolved from a common ancestor, undergoing parallel changes over time as they spread across Southeast Asia and beyond.

The Role of Extinction and Language Replacement

Blust’s theory also touches on the concept of linguistic extinction and language replacement. In regions like the Philippines and Borneo, linguistic diversity has been shaped by the extinction of certain languages and the replacement of others through migration and population movements. The process of language extinction, while erasing certain linguistic traces, also leaves behind important clues about the history of these languages.

Blust’s research suggests that some languages in the Greater North Borneo family have been replaced or overshadowed by more dominant languages over time. For example, the languages spoken in the Sulu Archipelago were replaced by Sama-Bajaw speakers within the last 1,200 years, a development that likely affected the linguistic landscape of the region. Despite these instances of language replacement, Blust argues that the traces of these extinct languages can still be detected through their influence on the languages that replaced them.

The Importance of Historical Linguistics in Understanding Migration

Blust’s work demonstrates the importance of historical linguistics in understanding human migration patterns. By studying the relationships between languages and identifying shared innovations, linguists can reconstruct the movement of people across vast distances. Blust’s research has provided valuable insights into the migration of Austronesian-speaking populations, showing how these groups spread from Taiwan to the Philippines, then to Borneo, and ultimately to Madagascar and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Historical linguistics, as Blust demonstrates, is not just about studying languages in isolation; it is also about understanding the broader patterns of human migration and settlement. The Greater North Borneo Hypothesis highlights the connections between language, geography, and migration, offering a window into the past that helps us better understand the movements of early Austronesian speakers and their descendants.

The Future of the Greater North Borneo Hypothesis

While Blust’s work has made significant contributions to our understanding of the linguistic relationships in Southeast Asia, there is still much to explore in the Greater North Borneo Hypothesis. The linguistic connections between the languages of Borneo, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar remain a fascinating area of research, and future studies may uncover additional evidence to support or refine Blust’s theory.

As new data becomes available, linguists will continue to test and refine the Greater North Borneo Hypothesis, exploring how languages in this vast region are connected and how they have evolved over time. The study of historical linguistics is an ongoing process, and Blust’s work serves as a foundation for future research in this area.

Revisiting the Linguistic Landscape of Southeast Asia

The Greater North Borneo Hypothesis offers a fresh perspective on the linguistic history of Southeast Asia, linking the languages of Borneo to a larger network of languages spanning across the region and beyond. 

Through this hypothesis, Robert Blust has opened up new avenues of research into the migration and diversification of Austronesian-speaking populations. By examining the connections between languages and identifying shared innovations, Blust’s work provides valuable insights into the movements of human populations across Southeast Asia, Madagascar, and beyond.

The Greater North Borneo Hypothesis also highlights the importance of geography in shaping linguistic diversity. The physical features of Southeast Asia, from the island chains of the Philippines to the mountainous terrain of Borneo, have played a crucial role in the development of distinct language families. 

By studying these geographical factors, linguists can gain a deeper understanding of how languages evolve and diversify over time.

Ultimately, Blust’s work serves as a reminder of the complexity and interconnectedness of the world’s languages. 

The Greater North Borneo Hypothesis not only reshapes our understanding of the Austronesian language family but also offers a window into the ancient history of human migration and cultural exchange across the Indo-Pacific region.

--Rangkaya Bada