The Tigak language of New Ireland

Abstract

Tigak is an Austronesian language spoken in the north-east of Papua New Guinea. This tagmemic description of Tigak illustrates the general grammatical and phonological nature of the language . Chapter 1 indicates the location and linguistic classification of Tigak and refers to the small amount of descriptive work on the language . The theoretical position underlying the description and minor modifications which are made are then set out . Chapter 2 out line s the phonology of the language . There are 12 consonant phonemes and 5 vowel phonemes . Syllables may have complex vowel nuclei , but consonant clusters occur only across syllable boundaries. Words may end with open or closed syllables . The syntax of Tigak sentences is discussed in Chapter 3. This is the first of four chapters which deal with the grammar . At clause level ( Chapter 4 ) , four types of clause base are described. These represent the structure common to all the seven clause types . Five of the clause types have subordinating conjunctions which precede the clause base. The other two types , Independent and Relative Clauses , are similar to each other in structure , but differ in function and distribution . Relative Clauses are not able for the lack of any relative pronoun or marker. Phrase level is considered in Chapter 5. Noun Phrases have a complex system of articles and quantifiers . Three types of Verb Phrases are set up , but as these have many features in common they are discussed together. The main complication is the variety of particles which may precede the verb . Subject pronouns occur obligatorily in the verb phrase , even when there is a noun as subject . Object suffixes are affixed to the verb or , if the verb is qualified, to the adverb . In Chapter 6 (word level ) four types of noun are distinguished according to the us e of articles and possessive suffixes . Pronouns provide the most interest at this level . Singular , dual , trial and plural are distinguished in all case functions . Similarities in form between the various types of pronouns and pronominal suffixes are established . Chapter 7 indicates the dialects of Tigak and some of the features which distinguish them . A Tigak text is given in Appendix 1 with interlinear and free translations and a brief commentary which indicates the sentence structure . The history of Tigak phonemes is outlined with reference to Proto-Oceanic ( and Proto-Austronesian ) reconstructions in Appendix 2. Appendix 3 contains a Tigak-English wordlist of 500 words including those used in the examples in the thesis. This is followed by an English-Tigak index . There is a brief grammar index in Appendix 4.