Developing the First Preliminary Dictionary of North American Jarai

Description

Minority languages in contact with a dominant language are often in danger of extinction. The Jarai language in North America could be endangered, as it is being passed on to fewer and fewer learners in each generation. This phenomenon raises concern, not only about the disappearance of the language, but the loss of the associated culture as well. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the documentation of the Jarai language in order to provide a linguistic resource for the Jarai communities in North America and scholars interested in researching the Jarai language. My intention is that this resource will also contribute to the preservation of the Jarai culture in North America. The major section of this thesis is a dictionary of North American Jarai. A brief ethnographic description and historical background of the Jarai people and their immigration to the United States are also included. Characteristics of the Jarai language, including its linguistic affiliation, structure, orthography, and development of the writing system are discussed. The methodology of dictionary development, software used, and collaboration with linguistic consultants are described.