Case in Yakkha

Abstract

The thesis entitled ‘Case in Yakkha' attempts to identify the Yakkha cases and their case markers. The researcher collected data from both primary and secondary sources. As the primary source, the researcher consulted four Yakkha native speakers above age 30 living in Angna-3, Panchthar, who were selected using judgmental sampling procedure. The techniques he used to collect data were elicitation, interview and recording. As the secondary source, he used the data collected for his M.Ed. thesis, Yakkha dictionary and other theses, books, journals etc. The collected data were analyzed descriptively and statistically. In the research, the researcher identified three case marking systems in Yakkha: zero-marking, case clitics (case markers) and postpositions, and thirteen cases viz. absolutive, ergative, instrumental, locative, allative, ablative, comitative, vocative, genitive , dative, mediative , similarity and inessive, and their case markers.

This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter is the introductory part which encompasses general background, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, review of the related literature, significance of the study, scope and delimitation, methods of data collection, methodology and modality and organization of the study. The chapter two includes Yakkha, Yakkha language and language maintenance, transmission and vitality. This chapter introduces the Yakkha in terms of origin, naming the term ‘Yakkha’, demography and distribution, tradition and culture, profession or occupation and academic status; Yakkha in terms of genetic affiliation, phonology, syllabus structure and its dialects. The chapter three deals with the case, case grammar and different case marking systems. The chapter four includes the case marking systems in Yakha, and analysis of the Yakkha cases and their case markers. The fifth chapter provides the synopsis of the entire thesis.