A grammar of Jahai

Research output: Book/ReportBookResearch

Abstract

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.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherPacific Linguistics
Number of pages245
Volume566
ISBN (Print)9780858835542, 0858835541
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Publication series

NamePacific Linguistics
Volume566

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Linguistics and Phonetics (015010003)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Comparative Language Studies and Linguistics

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