Banana (Musa spp.) domestication in the Asia-Pacifc region: Linguistic and archaeobotanical perspectives

An examination of linguistic terms for 'banana' within Island Southeast Asia and Melanesia sheds light on the history of Musa spp. domestication. Linguistic investigations suggest a westward dispersal of banana from New Guinea, mixing with a Philippine variety (or at least sphere of cultural usage), then westward again to mainland South-east Asia, and (as far as can be linguistically inferred) onward to the western edge of South Asia. The linguistically-derived interpretation accords generally with the archaeo-botanical evidence and botanical models for the dispersal of banana cultivars.