A grammar of Jahai
Author
Summary, in English
This book is a linguistic study of Jahai, a language belonging to the
Northern Aslian subgroup of the Aslian branch of the Mon-Khmer language
family. The language is spoken by groups of foragers in the mountain
rainforests of northern Peninsular Malaysia and southernmost Thailand, its
total number of speakers estimated at around 1,000. This study describes
the grammar of Jahai, including its phonology, processes of word formation,
word classes, and syntax. It also includes a word-list. While primarily
aimed at linguistic description, the study makes use of suitable
theoretical models for the analysis of linguistic features. In particular,
models of Prosodic and Template Morphology are employed to describe the
language's intricate processes of affixation. Typological comparisons are
made at times, especially with other Aslian languages.
The study is intended to expand our knowledge of the understudied Aslian
languages. It is also intended to contribute to Mon-Khmer and Southeast
Asian language studies in general, and, hopefully, also to a wider
linguistic context. Furthermore, it may serve as a practical source of
linguistic information for researchers and others working among the
Northern Aslian speech communities.
Northern Aslian subgroup of the Aslian branch of the Mon-Khmer language
family. The language is spoken by groups of foragers in the mountain
rainforests of northern Peninsular Malaysia and southernmost Thailand, its
total number of speakers estimated at around 1,000. This study describes
the grammar of Jahai, including its phonology, processes of word formation,
word classes, and syntax. It also includes a word-list. While primarily
aimed at linguistic description, the study makes use of suitable
theoretical models for the analysis of linguistic features. In particular,
models of Prosodic and Template Morphology are employed to describe the
language's intricate processes of affixation. Typological comparisons are
made at times, especially with other Aslian languages.
The study is intended to expand our knowledge of the understudied Aslian
languages. It is also intended to contribute to Mon-Khmer and Southeast
Asian language studies in general, and, hopefully, also to a wider
linguistic context. Furthermore, it may serve as a practical source of
linguistic information for researchers and others working among the
Northern Aslian speech communities.
Department/s
Publishing year
2005
Language
English
Publication/Series
Pacific Linguistics
Volume
566
Links
Document type
Book
Publisher
Pacific Linguistics
Topic
- General Language Studies and Linguistics
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 9780858835542
- ISBN: 0858835541