Aspect Markers in Prai: A Reanalysis in Comparative Austroasiatic Context
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Abstract
This study investigates the grammatical aspect system of Prai (ISO 639: prt), an Austroasiatic language spoken in northern Thailand and Laos. Research was conducted by corpus analysis of traditional folktale narratives and literature created by Prai working for Prai literacy and language development. Three primary aspect markers are identified and analyzed: ʔuʔ, læ:o and ʔæm. This study builds on the linguistic descriptions of Jordan (1985) and Malapol (1989) and offers an alternative analysis of læ:o in particular.
Findings demonstrate the semantic functions of these aspect markers: ʔuʔ indicates continuative aspect, læ:o marks a new situation created after a change of state (NSIT), and ʔæm is a completive marker that signifies comprehensive completion of an action. The aspect system of two closely related Austroasiatic languages (Khmu (two varieties, ISO 639: kjg) and Mlabri, ISO 639: mra) and one other Austroasiatic language (Lamet, ISO 639: lbn) are also presented for comparison.
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