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Lies My Informants Told Me

Lying occurs in all human societies, yet few anthropologists have explored this phenomenon ethnographically. Based in part on my own field experiences, I suggest some of the problems connected with making such a study. There follows an after-the-fact exploration of lying among the Melanesians of Nissan Atoll (Papua New Guinea). As is undoubtedly the case universally, islanders disapprove in principle of lying, but also recognize circumstances under which it is morally acceptable. Moreover those persons whom others label as liars are not invariably condemned for their lies. In fact, as my experience with informants suggests, the most accomplished liars in the community are also sometimes the most accomplished truth tellers.