On Topics in Itzaj

Résumé

The 1992 paper "Topic and Focus in Mayan" by Aissen categorized Mayan topics into external topics and internal topics. This paper attempts to determine if Itzaj are external or internal, or if it contains both types of topics. It also investigates if clause final topics could exist as external or internal topics in the language. By drawing data from Itzaj and other Mayan languages, the paper concludes that internal topics exist in Itzaj. The rpesence of external topics is not proven due to lack of relevant data. It can be inferred that Itzaj may contain external topics as Yucatec, a language closely related to Itzaj, has both external and internal topics. Clause-initial and clause-final topics are both allowed in internal toics in Itzaj. However, that of external topics are again unable to be proven.