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Article Dans Une Revue Studies in African Linguistics Année : 2012

Bondu-so vowel harmony: A descriptive analysis with theoretical implications

Résumé

This paper provides a descriptive analysis of the [ATR] vowel harmony system of Bondu-so (Dogon, Mali), a previously undocumented language. Data come from fieldwork and have not yet been published. While Bondu-so has seven surface vowels, namely, two [+ATR, +high] vowels ([i], [u]), a [–ATR +low] vowel [a] and a [±ATR] contrast in the mid vowels with front [e]/[ɛ] and back [o]/[ɔ], there is evidence for a more abstract vowel system phonologically consisting of ten vowels with [±ATR] contrasts with all vowel heights. Further, the language shows a three-way contrast with respect to the feature [ATR] on suffixal vowels: some suffixal vowels act as [+ATR] dominant, spreading their [+ATR] feature onto the root; other suffixes act as [–ATR] dominant, spreading [–ATR] onto the root, and still other suffixes have vowels unspecified for [ATR] receiving their [±ATR] feature by rightward spreading of the [±ATR] value of the root vowel. We offer an autosegmental analysis and then discuss the theoretical implications of such an analysis. These implications include the ternary use of [ATR], the issue of phonological versus morphological harmony, the relationship between vowel inventories and [ATR] harmony systems, and the question of abstractness in phonology.

Domaines

Linguistique

Dates et versions

hal-04394854 , version 1 (15-01-2024)

Identifiants

Citer

Abbie HANTGAN, Stuart Davis. Bondu-so vowel harmony: A descriptive analysis with theoretical implications. Studies in African Linguistics, 2012, 41 (2), pp.2-26. ⟨10.32473/sal.v41i2.107276⟩. ⟨hal-04394854⟩
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