AMBAI : an Austronesian language of Irian Jaya, Indonesia

Abstract

Ambai is a little-known Austronesian language of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. In this work we discuss the more common elements of the phonology, morphology, and clause-level syntax. This work is basically a synchronic description of the Ambai dialect of the Ambai language, but mention is also made of comparative materials in other Austronesian languages , especially in the morphology section, where they shed light on the Ambai data. We have chosen to limit the scope of this work by not discussing any level higher than the simple sentence or what we will call the expanded clause so as to be able to provide some depth of discussion on those areas covered. Chapter 1 places Ambai in its geographical and linguistic setting as a member of Blust's (1978) South Halmahera - West New Guinea group. The theoretical models used are summarized in 1.2 and the scope and purpose of this study in 1.3. In chapter 2 the sound system of Ambai is described in terms of distinctive features, morpheme-structure rules, and phonological processes. An overview of the basic open and closed word classes is given in chapter 3. We also relate Ambai syntax to syntactic universals as put forth by Greenberg (1966) to provide a concise summary of Ambai word order constraints. Chapter 4 discusses the Ambai noun function-based model which describes the NP as phrase employing a consisting of a referential core modified by Association, Qualification, Quantification, and Orientation elements. The final three chapters of this dissertation employ a layered clause model which sees the clause as consisting of a nuclear predicate, core arguments, and peripheral arguments. The clause nucleus is discussed in chapter 5, along with aspect and directionals which are held to be operators over the clause nucleus. The clause core is considered in chapter 6 where the core arguments (i.e. Subject and Object) are defined. Modality, which expresses the intent or ability of the Actor of the predication to perform the action is discussed as the core-level operator. Chapter 7 completes the discussion of the clause by analyzing the peripheral argument~ (e.g. GOAL, LOCATION, etc.) and the operators which obtain to the entire clause (i.e. Status, which includes a realis irrealis continuum; Tense; and Illocutionary Force, which involves declarative, interrqgative, and imperative. Appendix A continues the discussion of the verbal Subject affixes presenting diachronic aspects of the problem. Appendix B presents a narrative text in Ambai and Appendix C provides a basic vocabulary list with the Proto-Austronesian roots from which the words are derived. References cited conclude the dissertation.