Wojciech Dabrowski

Not by Word Alone: Cross-cultural Communication between Highlanders and Missionaries (SVD) in the Jimi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Introduction

Not by word alone: cross-cultural communication between highlanders and missionaries (svd) in the jimi valley, western highlands, papua new guinea. Explore cross-cultural communication challenges between Highlanders and SVD missionaries in Papua New Guinea's Jimi Valley, examining religious idea exchange in a post-colonial era.

Abstract

Is communication (especially of complex religious ideas!) between peoples of different cultures possible and if it is, then under what conditions? This is a vexing question in these post-colonial, post-totalitarian times when peoples in various parts of the world express their ethnic, religious and cultural identities in an atmosphere freed from the politics bent on fabrication of the fiction of consensus and unity extending over social border.

Review

This paper promises a timely and critically engaged examination of cross-cultural communication, particularly concerning the transmission of complex religious ideas. The title, "Not by Word Alone," immediately signals a sophisticated approach, moving beyond purely linguistic analyses to consider the broader spectrum of human interaction. The specific case study – Highlanders in the Jimi Valley, Papua New Guinea, and SVD missionaries – offers a rich, historically grounded, and geographically distinct context, making the findings potentially valuable for understanding similar encounters worldwide. The abstract frames its central question, "Is communication... between peoples of different cultures possible and if it is, then under what conditions?", as particularly vexing in contemporary post-colonial and post-totalitarian landscapes, acknowledging the resurgence of diverse identities and the rejection of forced consensus. A significant strength of the abstract lies in its explicit recognition of the multi-faceted nature of communication, suggesting that the research will delve beyond surface-level linguistic exchanges to explore deeper cultural, symbolic, and possibly non-verbal dimensions. The focus on "complex religious ideas" further sharpens the inquiry, as these concepts often embed deeply within specific worldviews, making their cross-cultural articulation a formidable challenge. By situating the research within a "post-colonial" framework, the abstract implicitly commits to a critical analysis of power dynamics and historical legacies that inevitably shape such interactions, thereby elevating the potential for a nuanced and ethically informed discussion. Given the ambitious scope and the critical lens established by the abstract, the full paper is expected to deliver a robust theoretical framework and rigorous methodology to effectively answer its central question. To truly illuminate the "conditions" under which such communication is possible, the study must thoroughly explore the specific cultural, social, and historical factors at play in the Jimi Valley. The promise inherent in "Not by Word Alone" suggests an exploration of rituals, practices, material culture, or other non-linguistic forms of meaning-making that facilitated or hindered understanding. If the subsequent analysis can empirically or theoretically unpack these dimensions with the same critical awareness, this paper holds the potential to make a substantial and original contribution to anthropology, communication studies, and the history of missions.

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