SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The grammatical model underlying this analysis of Tho syntax closely resembles the scale and category grammar developed by M.A.K. Halliday. This thesis does, however, suggest some major modifications to Halliday's model, and seeks to apply the modified theories to the analysis of Tho, in order to test whether they comprise a usable basis for the description of a language. Chapter one describes the theoretical standpoint of the thesis, comparing and contrasting it with other grammatical models. In particular the theories of Halliday and those of the tagmemicists are discussed. Chapter two gives an explanation of the layout of the thesis and other practical details. Chapter three gives a sketch of the syntactic units of Tho at primary delicacy, showing their structure and their interrelations. Chapters four to eight deal with the five units of Tho syntax in more detail, i.e. at secondary delicacy. The units, which are dealt with in successive chapters, are the verbal group, the nominal figure, the nominal phrase, the clause and the sentence. Chanter nine gives a sample text, parsed to show the assignment of descriptive categories to formal items in the text. Chapter ten gives another text with a word-for-word translation, but without parsing. The thesis ends with a bibliography and an index.