Urbanisation Process and Changes in Traditional Domiciliary Behavioural Patterns in Papua New Guinea - article ; n°2 ; vol.103, pg 149-161

Sababu Kaitilla

Description

Journal de la Société des océanistes - Année 1996 - Volume 103 - Numéro 2 - Pages 149-161
This paper explores the effect of urbanisation process on domiciliary behavioural patterns in Papua New Guinea. Urbanisation process in PNG has had significant effects on traditional socio-cultural norms despite its low level. The rate of cultural change has of course been exacerbated by many years of missionary and colonial activities. Using ethnographic and anthropological evidence the paper first traces what has, for many years, been considered traditionally acceptable and expected domiciliary behavioural patterns. These are then examined in the context of the current urbanisation process and its attendant effects. It is then argued that any severance of the traditional domiciliary behavioural patterns are likely to cause considerable stress amongst household members and kinship groups. Finally, the paper calls for detailed studies into cultural domiciliary patterns. These will enable for the designing of appropriate dwellings in which culturally acceptable behaviours can unfold unimpeded. It is argued that the built environment is extremely important for both expressing and structuring domiciliary behaviours.
13 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.

Informations

• Publié par: JOURNAL_DE_LA_SOCIETE_DES_OCEANISTES
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1996
• Nombre de lectures: 16
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Sababu Kaitilla
Urbanisation Process and Changes in Traditional Domiciliary
Behavioural Patterns in Papua New Guinea
In: Journal de la Société des océanistes. 103, 1996-2. pp. 149-161.
Abstract
This paper explores the effect of urbanisation process on domiciliary behavioural patterns in Papua New Guinea. Urbanisation
process in PNG has had significant effects on traditional socio-cultural norms despite its low level. The rate of cultural change has
of course been exacerbated by many years of missionary and colonial activities. Using ethnographic and anthropological
evidence the paper first traces what has, for many years, been considered traditionally acceptable and expected domiciliary
behavioural patterns. These are then examined in the context of the current urbanisation process and its attendant effects. It is
then argued that any severance of the traditional domiciliary behavioural patterns are likely to cause considerable stress amongst
household members and kinship groups. Finally, the paper calls for detailed studies into cultural domiciliary patterns. These will
enable for the designing of appropriate dwellings in which culturally acceptable behaviours can unfold unimpeded. It is argued
that the built environment is extremely important for both expressing and structuring domiciliary behaviours.
Citer ce document / Cite this document :
Kaitilla Sababu. Urbanisation Process and Changes in Traditional Domiciliary Behavioural Patterns in Papua New Guinea. In:
Journal de la Société des océanistes. 103, 1996-2. pp. 149-161.
doi : 10.3406/jso.1996.1986
http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/jso_0300-953X_1996_num_103_2_1986Urbanisation Process and Changes in Traditional
Domiciliary Behavioural Patterns in Papua
New Guinea
par
Sababu KAITILLA (Ph.D)1
Introduction in many developing countries this is still at a very
low rate, often between 1 5 and 30 percent of the
Urbanisation and development processes are total population, but increasing rapidly. This is
inextricably linked. Both create economic, socio- also the case in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where
cultural and technological change, may vary the level of urbanisation is currently between 15
from place to place. Urbanisation is a process and 16 percent of the total population of 4 mil
whereby a country or region undergoes a transi lion people. However, the rate of urban populat
tion from agrarian subsistence to a cash ion growth in major centres is unprecedented
'modern' 2 dependence. In other words, it is a elsewhere in the developed countries.
shift from agricultural to nonagricultural Nonetheless, almost everywhere, the process
employment. This process is often accompa- of urbanisation is often accompagnied by
gnied by changes in land-use, increase in urban serious problems such as socio-cultural change,
shortage of housing, employment, lack of adepopulation, economic growth, industrial and
technological development. Urbanisation pro quate social and physical infrastructure facilities
cess is also accompanied by a variety of other (see Segall 1979; Saile 1978, among other
features of 'modern' development and progress things). Similar concerns have often been echoed
such as the provision of schools, health-care, and by many scholars of urbanisation in PNG (see
infrastructure facilities (see Conroy 1977:59). Connell 1985, Oram 1989 and 1974, among
Consequently, it contributes to gradual but others). It is for these reasons that urbanisation
significant social and economic changes (Kai- in PNG is merely tolerated by successive govern
tilla 1990: Oram 1989; Rowley 1965). However, ments for lack of realistic alternatives. Several
social and cultural changes in most developing attempts to slow urbanisation process, for examp
countries is largely the result of missionary and le, forced repatriation of urban migrants have
colonial activities rather than of industrial and had little success (Oram 1974; 170).
technological developments (see Connell and The concept of town 3 in PNG was not only
Lea 1994). Unlike in most developed countries foreign but generally almost all settlements rarely
where the process of urbanisation has stabilised, exceeded a few hundred sparsely scattered (Oram
1 . The author is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture and Building at the PNG University of Technology. The
author is grateful to Dr. Paul Memmott of the Aboriginal Data Archive for his extensive and constructive comments. The is also indebted to three anonymous reviewers for their criticisms and valuable suggestions. However, any limitations
remain solely those of the author.
2. Also, the idea of modernisation is almost inseparable from industrialisation. McCarthy (1970:47) was of the opinion that
the introduction of any industry in PNG would considerably halt the changes to traditional families.
3. As in the whole of Melanesia, towns were built by colonial administrations to serve the interests of the few expatriates
communities (see, for example, Levine and Levine 1979). Urban houses too were built to serve the and meet the values
of the expatriate communities as in their countries of origin. Unfortunately, even independent governments have continued to
preserve and enhance expatriates social values in their housing programmes. 150 SOCIÉTÉ DES OCÉANISTES
1974; 170). For many areas, this population personal relationships between and among indi
remained fragmented into small ethno-linguistic viduals. This means knowing what types of beha
groups or even on a clan basis (see Levine and vioural patterns occur where, when, how and by
Levine 1979). On these premises, it is argued that whom, and to whom they are directed. It is
any urban conglomeration is likely to cause argued that strict compliance with socio-spatial
considerable stress to those who traditionally and distances are important to ensure that interperso
culturally interacted only with relatively small nal relationships are maintained at all times. In
groupings of their own kin or clan. As argued other words, how far apart or close can people be
below, stress may arise because urban life operat to each other when they interact? Indeed, this dis
es on different value systems, different concept tance varies considerably between and among
ions and forms of social organisations. cultural groups. This cultural 'distance' is
In addition, contemporary urban 4 housing significantly influential in the spacing of objects,
style in almost all PNG societis is also alien in sitting arrangements or even in the layout of
terms of layout, space utilisation and building rooms in a house.
style. Like elsewhere, in pre-contact period, This paper is not intended to offer a complete
Melanesians lived in traditional houses. But with theoretical foundation to this issue, but sets out
the coming of missionaries and colonial administ the basis for further exploratory studies in this
rators alien housing styles and alien settlement important area. The paper is based on a literature
layouts were imposed upon the indigenous popul review on the subject. It also reviews ethnogra
ations (Clay 1986; 100-1 19; 264). This is particul phic and anthropological data, and where neces
arly highlighted in the housing literature which sary supplements it with written information by
shows a growing concern between user dissatis early explorers, travelers and missionaries.
faction (Kaitilla 1993) in relation to space utilisa
tion and behaviour in the home environment. A
serious problem in most housing schemes is the Cultural generalisation
neglect by designers to consider socio-cultural
norms of the people that shape domiciliary beha PNG's population of nearly four million inha
viours (Mangar 1980). In PNG, these cultural bitants is sparsely and unevenly distributed
norms are collectively shared. These are in turn among the 700 small tribal groupings. Each has
its own specific socio-cultural development. fundamental in dictating domiciliary behaviour
al patterns and spatial use of the home environ Although the people of PNG are very diverse, it is
ments by different members of a household. possible to make some generalisation about them
This paper explores the impact of urbanisation on the basis of their domiciliary behavioural pat
process on domiciliary, or dwelling, behavioural terns. To a reader familiar with distinctive featu
patterns among the people of Melanesia and res of the people, for instance, facial différencies,
Papua New Guinea in particular. A historical such a generalisation would appear to do injus
exploration of this process is, therefore, impor tice and perhaps distort some subtle internal
tant to understand the basis of these changing differences. This bias must deliberately remain as
the focus of the generalisation is restricted to values and norms. A theoretical assumption
underlying this study is that traditional cultural commonly shared cultural norms (see, Rowley
norms of social organisation between and among 1965), social organisation and interactive use of
space. When examined closely there are common kinship groups are important in the ordering and
threads that make this cross-cultural generalisause of space. Any ordering and use of space in a
dwelling that ignores these norms is likely to tion among Papua New Guineans possible.
cause considerable cultural