DOCSLIB.ORG

Automated Adaptation Between Kiranti Languages

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Automated Adaptation Between Kiranti Languages University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2006 Automated Adaptation Between Kiranti Languages Daniel Richard McCloy The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation McCloy, Daniel Richard, "Automated Adaptation Between Kiranti Languages" (2006). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 84. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/84 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AUTOMATED ADAPTATION BETWEEN KIRANTI LANGUAGES By Daniel Richard McCloy B.S. Computer Science and Engineering, LeTourneau University, Longview, TX, 1991 Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Linguistics The University of Montana Missoula, MT Autumn 2006 Approved by: Dr. David A. Strobel, Dean Graduate School Dr. Anthony Mattina, Chair Linguistics Program Dr. Mizuki Miyashita Linguistics Program Dr Nancy Mattina The Writing Center Dr. David E. Watters Research Centre for Linguistic Typology McCloy, Daniel, M.A., December 2006 Linguistics Automated Adaptation Between Kiranti Languages Chairperson: Dr. Anthony Mattina Minority language communities that are seeking to develop their language may be hampered by a lack of vernacular materials. Large volumes of such materials may be available in a related language. Automated adaptation holds potential to enable these large volumes of materials to be efficiently translated into the resource-scarce language. I describe a project to assess the feasibility of automatically adapting text between Limbu and Yamphu, two languages in Nepal’s Kiranti grouping. The approaches taken—essentially a transfer-based system partially hybridized with a Kiranti-specific interlingua—are placed in the context of machine translation efforts world-wide. A key principle embodied in this strategy is that adaptation can transcend the structural obstacles by taking advantage of functional commonalities. That is, what matters most for successful adaptation is that the languages “care about the same kinds of things.” I examine various typological phenomena of these languages to assess this degree of functional commonality. I look at the types of features marked on the finite verb, case-marking systems, the encoding of vertical deixis, object-incorporated verbs, and nominalization issues. As this Kiranti adaptation goal involves adaptation into multiple target languages, I also present a disambiguation strategy that ensures that the manual disambiguation performed for one target language is fed back into the system, such that the same disambiguation will not need to be performed again for other target languages. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is a blessing to be able to work with people that you really enjoy, and in this regard I have been blessed at every turn. This project could have never happened without the months of work poured into it by Marius Doornenbal and Jeffrey Webster, who have tirelessly dug to find answers and solutions, and coaxed or prodded me along when I needed it. –Thank you! I cannot imagine how this thesis would have come to be but for Dr. Tony Mattina’s guidance and his time invested in me over these years. I was already indebted to him for setting my wife on the path where I consequently met her. I am now doubly indebted. –Thank you! It has a been a privilege, too, to receive much-needed help from such a master of Himalayan typology as Dr. David Watters. Not that I’ve grasped a fraction yet of what’s really going on in these languages, but what little of it I’ve begun to understand is owing in great measure to him. –Thank you! Nowhere else will it be truer to emphasize that all errors in this paper are mine alone. Dr. Mizuki Miyashita and Dr. Nancy Mattina have not only shouldered the task of serving on my committee, but have also invested time in my development and training. –Thank you! Space does not permit me to name them all, but there have been many, many others, too, who have given of themselves to bring me to this stage. I am so grateful. The greatest enabling and encouragement has come from my wife Adina, who has set aside her own desires time and time again to love me into reaching this milestone. –Thank you! How blessed I am indeed. Soli Deo Gloria. Dan McCloy Missoula, Montana, November 2006 iii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................ III CONTENTS .....................................................................................................IV LIST OF FIGURES....................................................................................... VII 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1 2. OVERVIEW OF MACHINE TRANSLATION ....................................... 5 2.1. The Capabilities of Machine Translation ............................................ 5 2.2. Types of MT Strategies......................................................................... 8 2.2.1. Direct Translation....................................................................................................... 8 2.2.2. Translation via Interlingua...................................................................................... 10 2.2.3. Transfer System ........................................................................................................ 13 2.2.4. Corpus-based Methods .............................................................................................. 14 Example-based Translation...........................................................................................................14 Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) ........................................................................................15 2.3. Recent MT innovations in other resource-scarce situations............. 19 2.4. History of MT in South Asia............................................................... 23 3. OVERVIEW OF KIRANTI...................................................................... 28 3.1. Rationale for automated adaptation.................................................. 28 3.2. Factors Making Machine Translation More Feasible ....................... 29 3.3. The Multi-Target Strategy ................................................................. 30 3.4. Kiranti Languages.............................................................................. 30 3.5. Selection of Languages ....................................................................... 31 3.5.1. Source Language Selection ....................................................................................... 31 3.5.2. Target Language Selection ....................................................................................... 32 3.5.3. Nature of Collaboration ............................................................................................ 33 3.6. Language background information.................................................... 34 3.6.1. Limbu......................................................................................................................... 34 Language Name .............................................................................................................................34 Speakers .........................................................................................................................................34 Linguistic Research........................................................................................................................34 3.6.2. Yamphu...................................................................................................................... 35 Language Name .............................................................................................................................35 Speakers .........................................................................................................................................35 4. ISSUES OF WORD FREQUENCY........................................................ 36 4.1. Overview of the Corpora..................................................................... 37 4.2. High-Frequency Words....................................................................... 40 4.3. Low-Frequency Words........................................................................ 43 4.4. Conclusions Regarding Word Frequency........................................... 45 5. ISSUES OF STRUCTURAL NON-CORRESPONDENCE ................ 46 5.1. An Initial Structural Comparison...................................................... 46 5.2. An Overview of Verbal Affixes ........................................................... 47 iv 5.3. Observations on Morpheme Correspondence .................................... 51 5.3.1. Inverse/Direct Marking ............................................................................................ 51 5.3.2. Missing Correspondents............................................................................................ 55 5.3.3. Inconsistently-matched Correspondents .................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Contrastive Linguistics; Determiners Language Classification
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 430 401 FL 025 837 TITLE Notes on Linguistics, 1998. INSTITUTION Summer Inst. of Linguistics, Dallas, TX. ISSN ISSN-0736-0673 PUB DATE 1998-00-00 NOTE 242p.; For the 1997 "Notes on Linguistics," see ED 415 721. PUB TYPE Collected Works - Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT Notes on Linguistics; n80-83 1998 EDRS PRICE MF01/PC10 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Book Reviews; Computer Software; Computer Software Development; Contrastive Linguistics; Determiners (Languages); Doctoral Dissertations; English; Greek; Language Classification; Language Patterns; *Language Research; *Linguistic Theory; Research Methodology; *Semantics; Technical Writing; *Uncommonly Taught Languages; Workshops IDENTIFIERS Alamblak; Bungku Tolaki Languages; Chamicuro; Kham ABSTRACT The four issues of the journal of language research and linguistic theory include these articles: "Notes on Determiners in Chamicuro" (Steve Parker); Lingualinks Field Manual Development" (Larry Hayashi); "Comments from an International Linguistics Consultant: Thumbnail Sketch" (Austin Hale); "Carlalinks Workshop" (Andy Black); "Implications of Agreement Languages for Linguistics" (W. P. Lehmann); and "The Semantics of Reconciliation in Three Languages" (Les Bruce) . Dissertation abstracts, book reviews, and professional notes are included in each issue.(MSE) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** NOTES ON LINGUISTICS Number 80 February 1998 Number 81 May 1998 Number 82 August 1998 Number 83 November 1998 SUMMER INSTITUTE OF LINGUISTICS 7500 WEST CAMP WISDOM ROAD DALLAS, TEXAS 75236 USA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND office ot Educatlonal Research and Improvement DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER (ERIC) \This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it.
    [Show full text]
  • Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. and RMW Dixon, Eds. 2006. Serial Verb
    A Grammar of Bantawa : grammar, paradigm tables, glossary and texts of a Rai language of Eastern Nepal Doornenbal, M.A. Citation Doornenbal, M. A. (2009, November 3). A Grammar of Bantawa : grammar, paradigm tables, glossary and texts of a Rai language of Eastern Nepal. LOT dissertation series. LOT, Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics, Utrecht. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14326 Version: Not Applicable (or Unknown) Licence agreement concerning inclusion of doctoral thesis in the License: Institutional Repository of the University of Leiden Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14326 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). Bibliography Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. and R.M.W. Dixon, eds. 2006. Serial Verb Constructions. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. 2004. Evidentiality. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Allen, N.J. 1975. Sketch of Thulung Grammar. New York: Ithaca. B ant av a, D. ik. 2001. ºAtAvA (rAI) fNÚkof (Bant av a (Ra ) abdako±, ‘Bantawa Rai dictionary'). D.K. Rai ‘Rupabun'. B ant av a, D. ik. V.S. 2055. ºAtvA (rAI) &yAkrZ^ , (Bantav a Ra Vyak aran . , ‘Bantawa Rai Grammar'). l#mF þkAfn, (Laks.mi Prak a±an). Bickel, Balthasar, Goma Banjade, Martin Gaenszle, Elena Lieven, Netra Paudyal, Ichchha Purna Rai, Manoj Rai, Novel Kishore Rai, and Sabine Stoll. 2007. ‘Free prefix ordering in Chintang'. Language, 83: pp. 1—31. Bickel, Balthasar and Johanna Nichols. 2006. ‘Inflectional morphology'. T. Shopen [ed.] Language typology and syntactic description. Bickel, Balthasar. 1993. ‘Belhare subordination and the theory of topic'. Studies in Clause Linkage, ASAS No. 12: pp.
    [Show full text]
  • Problems in Bantawa Phonology and a Statistically Driven Approach to Vowels1 Rachel Vogel
    Problems in Bantawa Phonology and a Statistically Driven Approach to Vowels1 Rachel Vogel A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics Swarthmore College December 2015 Abstract This thesis examines several aspects of the phonology of Bantawa, an endangered and fairly understudied Tibeto-Burman language of N epa!. I provide a brief review of the major literature on Bantawa to date and discuss two particular phonological controversies: one concerning the presence of retroflex consonants, and one concerning the vowel inventory, specifically whether there are six or seven vowel phonemes. I draw on data I recorded from a native speaker to address each of these issues. With regard to the latter, I also provide an in-depth acoustic analysis of my consultant's 477 vowels and consider several types of statistical models to help address the issue of the number of vowel contrasts. My main conclusions, based on the data from my consultant, are first, that there is evidence based on minimal pairs for a contrast between retroflex and alveolar stops, and second, that there is no clear evidence for a seven-vowel system in Bantawa. With regard to the latter point, additional avenues of research would still be needed to explore the possibility of allophonic variation and/or individual speaker differences. L Introduction There are over 120 languages spoken throughout Nepal, representing four different language families (Lewis et al. 2014; Ghimire 2013). Due to the lasting effects of a long history of social, political, and economic pressures, however, many of these languages are now endangered (Toba et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Sino-Tibetan Languages 393
    Sino-Tibetan Languages 393 Gair J W (1998). Studies in South Asian linguistics: Sinhala Government Press. [Reprinted Sri Lanka Sahitya and other South Asian languages. Oxford: Oxford Uni- Mandalaya, Colombo: 1962.] versity Press. Karunatillake W S (1992). An introduction to spoken Sin- Gair J W & Karunatillake W S (1974). Literary Sinhala. hala. Colombo: Gunasena. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University South Asia Program. Karunatillake W S (2001). Historical phonology of Sinha- Gair J W & Karunatillake W S (1976). Literary Sinhala lese: from old Indo-Aryan to the 14th century AD. inflected forms: a synopsis with a transliteration guide to Colombo: S. Godage and Brothers. Sinhala script. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University South Asia Macdougall B G (1979). Sinhala: basic course. Program. Washington D.C.: Foreign Service Institute, Department Gair J W & Paolillo J C (1997). Sinhala (Languages of the of State. world/materials 34). Mu¨ nchen: Lincom. Matzel K & Jayawardena-Moser P (2001). Singhalesisch: Gair J W, Karunatillake W S & Paolillo J C (1987). Read- Eine Einfu¨ hrung. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ings in colloquial Sinhala. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Reynolds C H B (ed.) (1970). An anthology of Sinhalese South Asia Program. literature up to 1815. London: George Allen and Unwin Geiger W (1938). A grammar of the Sinhalese language. (English translations). Colombo: Royal Asiatic Society. Reynolds C H B (ed.) (1987). An anthology of Sinhalese Godakumbura C E (1955). Sinhalese literature. Colombo: literature of the twentieth century. Woodchurch, Kent: Colombo Apothecaries Ltd. Paul Norbury/Unesco (English translations). Gunasekara A M (1891). A grammar of the Sinhalese Reynolds C H B (1995). Sinhalese: an introductory course language.
    [Show full text]
  • The Structure of Kiranti Languages: Comparative Grammar and Texts Karen the Rise of Jang Bahadur Rana, /830-/857 (1991) and People, Politics and H
    328 CNAS Journal, Vol. 32, NO.2 (July 2005) Reviffl--Article Note I John Whelpton is the author of Kings, Soldiers and Priests: Nepalese Politics and The Structure ofKiranti Languages: Comparative Grammar and Texts Karen the Rise of Jang Bahadur Rana, /830-/857 (1991) and People, Politics and H. Ebert. Zurich: ASAS, UniversiUit Zurich, 1994. Pages: 283. ISBN 3-95­ Ideology: Democracy and Social Change in Nepal (1999, with the late Martin 2010-5-2 Hoftun and WiIliam Raeper). Karen H. Ebert's grammar on Tibeto-Burman (T-B) Chianti languages - Gerard Toffin (acronym SKI: CGT), to my knowledge is the first typological (although the term 'comparative grammar' has not strictly been used in Crystal's (1980: 66 and 362-363) sense grammar of such type on geographically less-accessible and 'nearly extinct' (Crystal 2000: 20) Kiranti languages (see Appendix A for their regional distribution) spoken in Eastern hills of Nepal from the Likhu river in the west plus across the Nepal border to north-east India viz., Sikkim and Darjeeling. Phylogeneticall/, the generic phyla 'Kiranti' under T-B sub­ family, includes not less than thirty-two (cf. Rai 1985, Han~on 1991a, Nishi 1992 and Pokharel1994) scantily described languages. Or most of them are yet awaiting linguistic description and further documentation in any form of grammar or dictionary. To some extent, some of these languages have been investigated only recently after Allen's A Sketch ofThu/ung Grammar (1975) in the Kiranti linguistic literature. Ti II the year 1994, all other grammatical descriptions and investigations were based on separate individual Kiranti languages, e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Deixis System in Bantawa Rai and English Language A
    DEIXIS SYSTEM IN BANTAWA RAI AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE RAI RAI 2016 A Thesis Submitted to the Department of English Education 2126 SITAL In Partial Fulfillment for the Masters of Education in English LANGUAGE Submitted by Sital Rai TAWA RAI AND ENGLISH Faculty of Education Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur Kathmandu, Nepal DEIXIS SYSTEM INDEIXIS BAN 2016 DECLARATION I hereby declare that to the best of my knowledge this thesis is original; no part of it was earlier submitted for the candidature of research degree to any University. Date: 24/09/2016 ________________ Sital Rai 2 RECOMMENDATION FOR ACCEPTANCE This is to certify that Ms. Sital Rai has completed the research work of her M. Ed. Thesis entitled “Deixis System in Bantawa Rai and English Language” under my guidance and supervision. I recommend the thesis for acceptance. Date: 25/09/2016 ____________________ Dr. Anjana Bhattarai (Supervisor) Professor and Head Department of English Education University Campus T. U., Kirtipur 3 RECOMMENDATION FOR EVALUATION This thesis has been recommended for evaluation by the following Research Guidance Committee. Signature Dr. Anjana Bhattarai (Supervisor) ______________ Professor and Head Chairperson Department of English Education University Campus, T. U., Kirtipur Dr. Govinda Raj Bhattarai ____________ Member Professor, Department of English education University Campus, T. U. Kirtipur Dr. Purna Bahadur Kadel ______________ Lecture, Member Department of English Education University Campus, T. U. Kirtipur Date: 03/08/2015 4 EVALUATION AND APPROVAL This thesis has been evaluated and approved by the following Thesis Evaluation Committee. Signature Dr.Anjana Bhattarai (Supervisor) ______________ Professor and Head Chairperson Department of English Education University Campus, T.
    [Show full text]
  • Title on the Linguistic Position of the Kham Language in West Nepal
    On the Linguistic Position of the Kham Language in West Title Nepal : Some Provisional Observation Author(s) Nishida, Tatsuo Citation 音声科学研究 (1987), 21: 1-9 Issue Date 1987 URL http://hdl.handle.net/2433/52505 Right Type Departmental Bulletin Paper Textversion publisher Kyoto University STUDIA PHONOLOGICA XXI (1987) On the Linguistic Position of the Kham Language in West Nepa! --Some Provisional Observations-- Tatsuo NISHIDA 1. The Kham language is spoken in the Dhaulagiri and Rapti zones of West Nepal!>. In 1970 this language was investigated by David and Nancy Watters, and their Kham-English Glossary, which appeared in 19732>, particularly, was of great interest to me. Their field work on this language was a very important contribution to Tibeto­ Burman linguistic studies. As they say in their Glossary, "According to Swadesh list comparisons, Kham is not closely related to any ofthe Tibeto-Burman languages of Nepal in terms of vocabulary. It is about 25% cognate with the Magar and Gurung groups, slightly below 25% with the Tibetan group, and about 15°/<> with the Rai and Limbu groups" (p. vi). It seems the origin of the remaining 35% is obscure. What impressed me most was the inclusion of Lolo-Burmese words in the Glossary. Recently Kham has been studied in its syntactic constructions, especially the ergative system, and interesting findings have been published-contributing in an important way to studies on ergative systems in genera13>. At the same time, its morphological structure and word formation also show interesting features. In this paper I should like to discuss briefly some aspects of morphology and Tatsuo NISHIDA (ggE8ftbt): Professor, Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Letters, Kyoto University.
    [Show full text]
  • National Languages Policy Recommendation Commission 1994(2050VS)
    The Report of National Languages Policy Recommendation Commission 1994(2050VS) National Language Policy Recommendation Commission Academy Building, Kamaladi Kathmandu, Nepal April 13, 1994 (31 Chaitra 2050 VS) National Languages Policy Recommendation Commission Academy Building, Kamaladi Kathmandu, Nepal Date: April 13, 1994(31st Chaitra 2050VS) Honorable Minister Mr. Govinda Raj Joshi Minister of Education, Culture and Social Welfare Keshar Mahal, Kathmandu. Honorable Minister, The constitution promulgated after the restoration of democracy in Nepal following the people's revolution 1990 ending the thirty-year autocratic Panchayat regime, accepts that Nepal is a multicultural and multiethnic country and the languages spoken in Nepal are considered the national languages. The constitution also has ascertained the right to operate school up to the primary level in the mother tongues. There is also a constitutional provision that the state while maintaining the cultural diversity of the country shall pursue a policy of strengthening the national unity. For this purpose, His Majesty's Government had constituted a commission entitled National Language Policy Recommendations Committee in order to suggest the recommendations to Ministry of Education, Culture and Social Welfare about the policies and programmes related to language development, and the strategy to be taken while imparting primary education through the mother tongue. The working area and focus of the commission constituted on May 27, 1993 (14th Jestha 2050 VS) was the development of the national languages and education through the mother tongue. This report, which considers the working area as well as some other relevant aspects, has been prepared over the past 11 months, prior to mid-April 1994 (the end of Chaitra 2050VS), on the basis of the work plan prepared by the commission.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Languages Spoken in Nepal
    List of Languages spoken in Nepal. 20,188,000 (1995). 2,423,840 speakers of Tibeto-Burman languages (1991 J. Matisoff). Kingdom of Nepal, Sri Nepala Sarkar. Literacy rate 20% to 29%. Information mainly from W. Winter 1991, SIL 1977, Hale 1982, Dor Bahadur Bista 1972. Data accuracy estimate: A2, B. Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian. Blind population 100,000. Deaf institutions: 3. The number of languages listed for Nepal is 125. Of those, 124 are living languages and 1 is extinct. ATHPARIYA (ATHAPRE, ATHPARE) [APH] 2,000 (1995 Karen Ebert); 232,264 all Rai languages (1971 census). North of the Tamur, between the Dhankutakhola in the west and the Tangkhuwa in the east; Dhankuta and Bhirgaon panchayats. Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Bodic, Eastern Himalayan, Kiranti, Eastern, Southwestern. Different from the Arthare dialect of Dungmali, and from Belhariya, which is also called Athpariya (W. Winter 1991). Used by all, including children and educated speakers. Low bilingualism in Nepali. Reported to be closest to Limbu, but not inherently intelligible with it. The term 'Kiranti' covers about 21 dialects, of which fewer than half are even partially intelligible. Rai and Kiranti are partially overlapping terms and subject to many interpretations (Austin Hale SIL 1977, personal communication). Survey needed. AWADHI (ABADI, ABOHI, AMBODHI, AVADHI, BAISWARI, KOJALI, KOSALI) [AWD] 540,000 in Nepal (1993 Johnstone); 20,000,000 in India (1951 census); 20,540,000 in all countries. Lumbini Zone, Kapilbastu District, Majhkhanda, Khajahani. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, East Central zone. Dialects: GANGAPARI, MIRZAPURI, PARDESI, THARU, UTTARI. 50% to 75% literate. Bible portions 1820-1911.
    [Show full text]
  • English Code-Mixing in Magar Literature: a Case of "Aachhim Chetaika"
    ENGLISH CODE-MIXING IN MAGAR LITERATURE: A CASE OF "AACHHIM CHETAIKA" A Thesis Submitted to the Department of English Education In Partial Fulfilment for the Master of Education in English Submitted by Manoj Kumar Pun Magar Faculty of Education Tribhuvan University Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal 2016 T.U. Reg. No.: 6-1-54-307-2006 Date of Approval of Second Year Examination Thesis Proposal: 08/08/2016 Roll No: 280394/070 Date of Submission: 29-09-2016 1 DECLARATION I hereby declare that to the best of my knowledge this thesis is original; no part of it was earlier submitted for the candidature of research degree to any university. Date: 21-09-2016 …………….………………. Manoj Kumar Pun Magar 2 RECOMMENDATION FOR ACCEPTANCE This is to certify that Mr. Manoj Kumar Pun Magar has prepared this thesis entitled English Code-Mixing in Magar Literature: A Case of "Aachhim Chetaika" under my guidance and supervision. I recommend the thesis for acceptance. Date: 22-09-2016 ............................................ Mr. Guru Prasad Poudel (Supervisor) Teaching Assistant Department of English Education Faculty of Education T.U., Kirtipur, Kathmandu 3 RECOMMENDATION FOR EVALUATION This thesis has been recommended for evaluation from the following Research Guidance Committee. Signature Dr. Anjana Bhattarai ……………………. Professor and Head Chairperson Department of English Education T.U., Kirtipur Ms. Madhu Neupane ……………………. Lecturer Member Department of English Education T.U., Kirtipur Mr. Guru Prasad Poudel (Supervisor) ……………………. Teaching Assistant Member Department of English Education T.U., Kirtipur Date: 4 EVALUATION AND APPROVAL This thesis has been evaluated and approved by the following Thesis Evaluation and Approval Committee. Signature Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Para Naga; a Descriptive Grammar of Jejara
    A DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR OF JEJARA (PARA NAGA) TIFFANY BARKMAN Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN LINGUISTICS Payap University February 2014 Title: A Descriptive Grammar of Jejara (Para Naga) Researcher: Tiffany Barkman Degree: Master of Arts in Linguistics Advisor: Larin Adams, Ph.D. Approval Date: 4 February 2014 Institution: Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand The members of the thesis examination committee: 1. _________________________________ Committee Chair (Assoc. Prof. Saranya Savetamalya, Ph.D.) 2. _________________________________ Committee Member (Larin Adams, Ph.D.) 3. _________________________________ Committee Member (Prang Thiengburanathum, Ph.D.) Copyright © Tiffany Barkman Payap University 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost it is my privilege to thank my God. It is only by his grace that I am able to complete this degree, or even be here today. There are so many who have been used by him to enable me to accomplish this task. Some have assisted me directly with the thesis. Many have contributed by the roles they have had in shaping who I am today, and these are no less important. Although I will not be able to mention everyone, it is my privilege to show my gratitude to those to whom it is appropriate to do so here. A big thank you goes to the Jejara community, especially the language and culture committee, and Saya Weli Ja who worked patiently through the hot season as my language resource person to provide me with the materials for this study. I am grateful to Dr. Larin Adams who has worked as my advisor, guiding and shaping both this work and me in the process.
    [Show full text]
  • Marginalizatlon of INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES of NEPAL I
    MARGINALIZATlON OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES OF NEPAL Go\'inda Bah.ldur Tumbahang Introduction Nepal is. a multi -ethnic and l11ulli-lingual nation wi th diffcrclU ceologic:! 1 zoncs such as mountain. hill. inner Tarni and Tarni . It is a home 10 59 indigenous nationalities. who speak more than 70 languages. BUI many of Ihe indigenous languages :.re seriously endangered and quilc a few ha\'c been extinct due 10 the wrong l:mgu;lge policy of the Slate before the introduction of multiparty democracy in Ihe country. This paper defines Ihe indigenous languages list ing them according 10 go\'crnmcnI gal-CHC, poims Olll Ihe process of their margina1izalion. evaluates their present silUalion. and suggests ways how to bring IhcIllIO the main st ream of national l:mguagc ;lIld cullurc. Dclinition According to The National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities Act 2002 (Adi l'llsil)wwjllti ljl/han Prmi.wlulI/ Ain 2058). Adib.'lsislhnajatis arc 'those ethnic groups or communities enl isted in the Appendix I Schedu le of the Act who have their own mother tongue and Ir:lditiOrl:l1 CUStoms. distinct cuhur;LI identity. distinct social structure :md written or or:11 hi story or their own: The act cnlists 59 distinct groups ;15 indigenous nationalities. who live in different ccologic:l1 zones as mentioned in table I. Table I: Indigenous nationalities of Nepal Mounl:lin Mountain I. 8arhagaunle 2. 8hmia 3. By:lgnsi 4. Chhai rOlan 5. Doll'" 6. L..1rkc I 7. Lhorni 8. Lhopa I 9. Marphali 111akali 10. Mug:l!i I 11. Siyar I 12.
    [Show full text]