Language Description and Documentation Commons^™

Argument Encoding And Pragmatic Marking Of The Transitive Subject In Shiwilu (Kawapanan), Pilar Valenzuela

World Languages and Cultures Faculty Articles and Research

Shiwilu (a.k.a. Jebero) is a nearly extinct Kawapanan language from Peruvian Amazonia. The goal of this article is twofold. First, it investigates the obligatory cross-referencing of arguments in the complex Shiwilu verb. This system is predominantly nominative accusative, with the caveat that main clause object markers coincide with those conveying subject in one type of clause involving nominal predicates, as well as subject and object of dependent clauses. Second, this article provides a first analysis of the enclitic =ler, which may attach to transitive subjects and thus exhibits an ergative-like distribution. Unlike the situation in languages with syntacticized ergative systems, …

Language Choice Of Bidayuh Graduates In Kuching-Samarahan Division., Norazuna Norahim

Student Works (2010-2019)

This dissertation describes the language choice patterns of Bidayuh graduates in an urban setting. It demonstrates the interaction between macro-sociological modifications with changes in language choice patterns of the Bidayuh community, an ethnic minority located in East Malaysia. The motivation for the study is driven by the need to ascertain the direction of the changing language choice patterns of its community members, and the extent to which it is threatening the position of the mother tongue. Despite having a population of approximately 170,000 speakers, the Bidayuh language displays characteristics of a “threatened” language. The proximity of the Bidayuh speech community …

Kpelle-English Dictionary, With Accompanying English-Kpelle Glossary, Elizabeth Winkler

English Faculty Book Gallery

This is a basic dictionary of Kpelle with a small grammatical sketch at the beginning of the book.

Originally published by the Indiana University Linguistics Club Publications. (1997)

Available for download (top button) is an updated Glossary including an introduction as well as specifics regarding the Kpelle Language (2017)

additional image download (bottom button) is a sample page from the upcoming dictionary.

The Phonology Of Amoy Chinese, Howard S. Maclay

Anthropology ETDs

The language described here is one of the major dialects of Chinese and is spoken in the Fukien province and on the island of Formosa. According to the informant the variety spoken around the of Amoy is regarded as the "purest."

The History Of The Evolution Of Shorthand, Selma O. Preuss

Bachelors’ Theses

One manifestation of man's superiority over the rest of the animal kingdom consists in the power of communicating thought by means of speech. At first when all mankind dwelt together, a spoken language was sufficient to meet the demands. When, however, the human race began to disperse over the earth, another means of communication was found necessary. Consequently, the art of writing was introduced, crude at first, but gaining in ease, grace, and speed through the ages, until it reached the acme of its perfection. To the literary art the whole commonwealth of other arts must bow down am resign …