Abstract
This thesis aims to provide a preliminary description of the phonology, lexicon, and syntax of Takibakha, one of the Northern dialects of Bunun. Takibakha Bunun has 16 consonants and 5 vowels. A significant finding is that Takibakha has five phonemic vowels (/i, e, a, o, u/), rather than three as claimed in previous studies. In the discussion of lexicon, two topics, numerals and temporal expressions are covered. Takibakha numerals are divided into cardinal, indefinite, limitative, multiplicative, fractional, distributive, and ordinal. Temporal expressions are divided into specific time expressions and deictic expressions. As for syntax, I discuss construction markers (including case marking system, personal pronouns, deictic expressions, and ligatures), basic properties of clauses (including word order, the structure of nominal and verbal clauses, and more specifically, focus, aspect, and mood), and four types of clauses (including adverbial, reciprocal, interrogative, and negative clauses) in Takibakha. The following observations are made in the discussion of Takibakha syntax. First, I argue for the occurrence of two case markers in Takibakha: (C)a and (C)i, rather than one as claimed in previous studies. These two markers are used to mark nominative and oblique cases, respectively. Second, I observe that third person pronouns behave like demonstratives rather than first and second person pronouns. Third, I observe the occurrence of five focuses, rather than four, in Takibakha. The fifth focus is marked by ʔis-…-an, which is used to indicate beneficiary focus.