[PapuanLanguages] Languages named "No"

[Joyce Wood]

'no' (English) / 'nogat' (Tok Pisin)
is the naming convention for languages in the Sepik region of PNG. See 
Laycock 1975 in Pacific Linguistics. Sorry this is not a full citation.

I've always wondered which came first: Laycock's written records, or the 
language names? I used to think Laycock started it, but now I'm thinking 
that the convention was established among the language speakers 
themselves, long before Laycock visited there. Info anyone?
- Joyce Wood

On 2/25/2016 1:24 PM, Tom Honeyman wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have often heard anecdotal evidence of a naming pattern, supposedly widespread, in various parts of both PNG and Australia of languages "named" for the word meaning “no” (or “no-having”, or the negator) in that language.
>
> I'm sure I have a memory of someone either publishing or at least blogging about this in the last 10 years or so, but I can't for the life of me find the source. “No” is of course not the only convention either.
>
> Can anyone please point me in the right direction?
>
> Regards,
> Tom Honeyman
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