Guamorigin

Guamorigin is a coined term used to describe the study or discussion of Guam's origins across geological, ecological, linguistic, and human-historical dimensions. It does not denote a formal, standardized discipline, but rather a framing concept used in academic syntheses, cultural studies, and speculative writing that seek to connect natural history with human development on the island.

Etymology and scope: The term fuses the island's name with the idea of origin, signaling a holistic or integrative approach rather than a single subfield. Guamorigin discussions may address the island's geological formation in the Mariana arc, the long prehistory of the Chamorro people, early Austronesian migrations, and the later layers of contact and rule by Spain, Japan, and the United States. They may also examine how the indigenous name Guåhan, and its Spanish adaptation Guam, entered common usage and shaped identity.

Usage and interpretation: As a loose label, Guamorigin functions as a prompt for cross-disciplinary dialogue and inclusive storytelling about Guam's past. Proponents argue it helps connect archaeology, geology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology, while critics caution that the term should not replace established, discipline-specific methods or obscure differences between natural history and social history.

Related topics include Guam, the Chamorro people, and the wider Mariana Islands.