Mopan Maya Phonology and Grammar

This thesis is a linguistic analysis of Mopan Maya, analyzing its phonology and grammar in such terms as to establish it as a separate Mayan language in itself, while acknowledging its close relationship to Itza, Lacandon, and Yucatec. It has been found that Mopan differs most significantly from Yucatec in its vowel inventory, its probable lack of phonemic tone, and in its use of suffixation. This study shows that worthwhile findings can be made from a short taped and written corpus without the aid of a native informant, but that such restrictions will automatically result in a limited number of conclusions. The phoneme inventory and certain aspects of grammar can be handled, but much is left for future research in the areas of morphophonemics, morphology and syntax, which cannot be done without help from a native informant.

Thesis Author: Hoagland, Donald Linden

Year Completed: 1974

Thesis Chair: Robert Blair