Much of my research over the last few years has focused on spatial cognition, including linguistic systems of spatial reference and nonlinguistic spatial behaviour, and on the relationship between language, culture and thought and competing notions of linguistic relativity and innate determinism. In particular I have been investigating systems of spatial language and behaviour that operate in the absolute Frame of Reference (such as cardinal points).

This spatial research has involved field data collection in the Solomon Islands and Micronesia, involving the experimental elicitation of spatial language, and of nonlinguistic spatial behaviour, including memory recall and memory recognition tasks. The Micronesian research took place in Kiribati and in the Marshall Islands, and revealed a system of spatial reference not previously described.

(f.c.) 'Pointing at the lagoon: directional terms in Oceanic atoll-based languages.' In Jeff Siegel, John Lynch & Dianne Eades (eds) Language description, history and development: linguistic indulgences in memory of Terry Crowley. London: Benjamins.

(2005) 'Topography and Frame of Reference: conceptualizing space in Oceania.' Presentation in panel on space in Oceania at the 104th American Anthropological Association conference, Washington DC. View this paper.

(2004) 'Standing Whorf on his head: evidence from spatial reference on the relationship between language and thought.' Draft paper circulated at the International Conference on Language, Culture, and Mind, University of Portsmouth. View this paper.

(2003) 'Linguistic Frame of Reference reconsidered.' In Peter Collins & Mengistu Amberber (eds) Proceedings of the 2002 Conference of the Australian Linguistics Society. www.als.asn.au.

(2002) 'Absolute spatial reference and the grammaticalisation of perceptually salient phenomena.' In Giovanni Bennardo (ed) Representing space in Oceania: culture in language and mind. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

© Bill Palmer 2006