The Fore Language of Papua New Guinea

FORE is a non-Austronesian language of the highlands of Papua New Guinea. It has two particularly fascinating aspects : (i) extensive phonological change according to morpheme class; and (ii ) indication of inter-clausal relationships as part of verb morphology. In this description, the basic philosophy is that of the theory of Tagmemics, although peculiarly Tagmemic terminology and formulae have been kept to a minimum. Following a review of previous scholarship given in the first chapter, chapter 2 describes the phonology, and chapter 3 the morphophonemic changes which pervade Fore speech. Later, in chapter 10, a brief comparative survey places Fore within the larger context of the East-Central family. Morphology and syntax at clause level are given in chapter s 4-6. Chapter 7 then gives the morphology of inter-clausal relations, by which strings of clauses are conjoined to form the inordinately long sentences which are typical of languages such as Fore. The structure of such strings is given in chapter 8, which is then illustrated by as ample one - sentence discourse in chapter 9. Under lying morpheme forms are given throughout.