Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typology

The paper criticially discusses Green’s (this issue) binary typology of replacive tones in Western Mande nominal constructions. Green’s distinction between the two types of replacive tones in Western Mande is based on the existence of Word 2 to Word 2 tone spreading, which is attested in a subset of...

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Main Author: Maria Konoshenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mandenkan, Langage, Langues et Cultures d’Afrique Noire 2018-07-01
Series:Mandenkan
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/mandenkan/1585
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author Maria Konoshenko
author_facet Maria Konoshenko
author_sort Maria Konoshenko
collection DOAJ
description The paper criticially discusses Green’s (this issue) binary typology of replacive tones in Western Mande nominal constructions. Green’s distinction between the two types of replacive tones in Western Mande is based on the existence of Word 2 to Word 2 tone spreading, which is attested in a subset of languages under the scope of Green’s paper. I suggest to shift the focus of Mande replacive tone typology from Word 2 to Word 2 tone spreading, as put forward by Green, to the properties of Word 2 tonal neutralization. The crucial evidence in favour of my approach comes from other Mande branches not discussed in Green’s paper. I argue that there are two types of Word 2 tonal neutralization in Mande. The first type covers phonological neutralization, whereby Word 2 gets a default (unmarked) tone and/or it may get its tone from Word 2 via spreading, this type is attested in Central Mande. The second type is morphological (morphosyntactic) neutralization whereby Word 2 is assigned a specific tone marker, typically low or extra‑low tone. This type of Word 2 neutralization is attested in Southern, Soso‑Southwestern Mande, Vai, and Soninke, although it is obscured by further surface W1 to W2 spreading in Soso‑Southwestern Mande and Vai.
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spelling doaj.art-3d9538dc083f40b6abcebd2e587f1f142022-12-22T01:01:20ZengMandenkan, Langage, Langues et Cultures d’Afrique NoireMandenkan2104-371X2018-07-015910.4000/mandenkan.1585Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typologyMaria KonoshenkoThe paper criticially discusses Green’s (this issue) binary typology of replacive tones in Western Mande nominal constructions. Green’s distinction between the two types of replacive tones in Western Mande is based on the existence of Word 2 to Word 2 tone spreading, which is attested in a subset of languages under the scope of Green’s paper. I suggest to shift the focus of Mande replacive tone typology from Word 2 to Word 2 tone spreading, as put forward by Green, to the properties of Word 2 tonal neutralization. The crucial evidence in favour of my approach comes from other Mande branches not discussed in Green’s paper. I argue that there are two types of Word 2 tonal neutralization in Mande. The first type covers phonological neutralization, whereby Word 2 gets a default (unmarked) tone and/or it may get its tone from Word 2 via spreading, this type is attested in Central Mande. The second type is morphological (morphosyntactic) neutralization whereby Word 2 is assigned a specific tone marker, typically low or extra‑low tone. This type of Word 2 neutralization is attested in Southern, Soso‑Southwestern Mande, Vai, and Soninke, although it is obscured by further surface W1 to W2 spreading in Soso‑Southwestern Mande and Vai.http://journals.openedition.org/mandenkan/1585Mande languagestonereplacive toneinflectional toneneutralizationdefault tone
spellingShingle Maria Konoshenko
Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typology
Mandenkan
Mande languages
tone
replacive tone
inflectional tone
neutralization
default tone
title Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typology
title_full Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typology
title_fullStr Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typology
title_full_unstemmed Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typology
title_short Word‑level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions: On Christopher Green’s binary typology
title_sort word level replacive tonal patterns in mande nominal constructions on christopher green s binary typology
topic Mande languages
tone
replacive tone
inflectional tone
neutralization
default tone
url http://journals.openedition.org/mandenkan/1585
work_keys_str_mv AT mariakonoshenko wordlevelreplacivetonalpatternsinmandenominalconstructionsonchristophergreensbinarytypology