Nuer Tonal inventory
The tonal system of Nuer has been a matter of much uncertainty. Here we present empirical evidence in favor of a three toneme system with some typologically rare features. One of them is an intriguing case of allotony based on the phonation of the vowel: the High toneme has a falling allotone over m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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LibraryPress@UF
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Studies in African Linguistics |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.flvc.org/sal/article/view/122257 |
| _version_ | 1818370108685287424 |
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| author | Irina Monich |
| author_facet | Irina Monich |
| author_sort | Irina Monich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The tonal system of Nuer has been a matter of much uncertainty. Here we present empirical evidence in favor of a three toneme system with some typologically rare features. One of them is an intriguing case of allotony based on the phonation of the vowel: the High toneme has a falling allotone over modal vowels. Moreover, the Rising toneme has four allotones: a rising, a mid, a low and a falling allotone. The falling allotone of the Rising toneme also occurs only on modal vowels in specific contexts. We suggest that some of the allotonic variation is motivated by tonal contour simplification. We also point out the role of free variation in some of the allotonic alternations, and the constraints that put limits on the free variation between allotones. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:34:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0f788b3fd614fe39fc054ebba9f862c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0039-3533 2154-428X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:34:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | LibraryPress@UF |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Studies in African Linguistics |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0f788b3fd614fe39fc054ebba9f862c2022-12-21T23:27:21ZengLibraryPress@UFStudies in African Linguistics0039-35332154-428X2020-05-0149110.32473/sal.v49i1.122257Nuer Tonal inventoryIrina Monich0University of SurreyThe tonal system of Nuer has been a matter of much uncertainty. Here we present empirical evidence in favor of a three toneme system with some typologically rare features. One of them is an intriguing case of allotony based on the phonation of the vowel: the High toneme has a falling allotone over modal vowels. Moreover, the Rising toneme has four allotones: a rising, a mid, a low and a falling allotone. The falling allotone of the Rising toneme also occurs only on modal vowels in specific contexts. We suggest that some of the allotonic variation is motivated by tonal contour simplification. We also point out the role of free variation in some of the allotonic alternations, and the constraints that put limits on the free variation between allotones.https://journals.flvc.org/sal/article/view/122257West Nilotic;Nuer;tone;vowel phonation;phonation |
| spellingShingle | Irina Monich Nuer Tonal inventory Studies in African Linguistics West Nilotic; Nuer; tone; vowel phonation; phonation |
| title | Nuer Tonal inventory |
| title_full | Nuer Tonal inventory |
| title_fullStr | Nuer Tonal inventory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nuer Tonal inventory |
| title_short | Nuer Tonal inventory |
| title_sort | nuer tonal inventory |
| topic | West Nilotic; Nuer; tone; vowel phonation; phonation |
| url | https://journals.flvc.org/sal/article/view/122257 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irinamonich nuertonalinventory |