Phonotactics
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This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 21 Jul 2017, 14:54.
[comments] agdphonologyphonotacticscvcsyllablestressstructureinventoryphonologicalonsetnucleuscodaclustersallophone
3. Phonotactics
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Consonants
| Labial | Alveolar | Labio-Palatal | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | |||
| Plosive | p p: b | t t: d | k k: g | ʔ | |
| Fricative | v | s | |||
| Approximant | l | ɥ | |||
| Trill | r |
Consonant Grades
Some consonants are graded Strong & Weak. There are ramifications to this grading system in both morphology & phonology since consonant grades are not allophones of one another & their distribution is muddled by historic sound changes. Consonant grades are discussed in further detail in this article here.
Allophones
- /ng/ is realized [ŋg]
- /rn rt rs/ are realized as retroflex /ɳ: ʈ: ʂ:/
- /p k/ are realized as /f x/ as the 1st element of consonant clusters & word finally after a vowel
- /ɥ/ is only ever realized as such between a front vowel & a back vowel, elsewhere it is either realized as /j/ or as /w/, depending on the roundness of the preceding vowel
- /r/ is realized as /ɾ/ between unstressed & secondarily stressed vowels
Vowels
| Front | Mid | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i | u | |
| Mid | e | ə | ɤ o |
| Low | a | ɑ |
The unrounded back vowels /ɑ ɤ/ are restricted to syllables which receive primary stress. They have historically been reduced to /a e/ elsewhere. Similarly, /ə/ is restricted to unstressed syllables.
Some function words consist only of a vowel, but otherwise syllable structure can be summarized as CV(C)(C). There are exceptions to this rule, though, as initial consonant clusters are possible & final clusters of up to three consonants are not unheard of.
Onset
An onset of one consonant is obligatory. Except in unstressed function words, a glottal stop is epenthesized at the beginning of words otherwise beginning in a vowel. Except for /ɥ/, all phonemic consonants can potentially occur in the onset of a syllable.
Nucleus
The nucleus consists of an obligatory vowel. All vowels are allowed in the 1st syllable (which receives primary stress). The cardinal vowels /a e i o u/ can occur in secondarily stressed syllables. The cardinal vowels are typically reduced to schwa in unstressed syllables. Stressed vowels are lengthened whenever there is no consonant in the coda.
Stress Rules
The shorthand rule is that stress falls on the 1st syllable of any word. The actual rules are slightly more complex than this, however. The following rules can be used to determine where stress falls:
1) Words are split into two-syllable long feet.
2) Extra syllables are not footed.
3) Feet are built from right to left.
4) Feet are trochees. In other words, stress falls on the 1st syllable of a foot.
5) Main stress is placed on the left-most foot & secondary stress is placed on others.
Therefore, primary stress falls on the 1st syllable of most words. Secondary stress then comes every odd numbered syllable (third, fifth, etc.) unless it is the final syllable. Note that since one syllable words don't have feet, they are unstressed.
"Stress in Agadelic"
Coda
Up to two consonants can be included in the syllable coda. If no consonant appears in the syllable coda, then, if it receives stress, the nuclear vowel is pronounced long. Any consonant can appear in the syllable coda by itself, but only the following consonants are distinguished word-finally: /m n p t k v s l ɥ r/ [m n f t x v s l j w r]. These consonants can also occur as the 1st element of non-geminate consonant clusters, but with some assimilations. Nasals, for instance, assimilate to the place of articulation of the subsequent consonant.
Note that any consonant which can occur finally can also cluster with itself across syllable boundaries. In other words, it appears geminate. The consonant /ɥ/ is a natural exception to this rule because it cannot appear in the onset of a syllable.
Cluster Restrictions
Only these clusters of two consonants are permitted: /mb nd ng vm vn rm rn ɥm ɥn vp vt vk rp rt rk ɥp ɥt ɥk vs rs ɥs tv kv pr kr ps ts ks/. Furthermore, these clusters of up to three consonants are also possible: /rmb rnd rng ɥmb ɥnd ɥng vtv vkv vpr vkr rpv rtv rkv rpr rkr ɥtv ɥkv ɥpr ɥkr vps vts vks rps rts rks ɥps ɥts ɥks/.
Word-finally, however, only these clusters are possible: /mb nd ng rm rn ɥm ɥn vp vt vk rp rt rk ɥp ɥt ɥk rs ɥs ps ts ks/ & /rmb rnd rng ɥmb ɥnd ɥng vts vks rps rts rks ɥps ɥts ɥks/
But even more limited are word-initial clusters, of which only these are possible: /tv kv pr kr ps ts ks/
Consonants in clusters do not undergo gradation, except in the case of assimilation:
/mb/ > /mm/
/nd/ > /nn/
/rt/ > /rr/
Note that epenthesis of an unstressed vowel usually written "e" is sometimes necessary before suffixes since /s l/ can occur word-finally but not as the 1st element in consonant clusters. Furthermore, epenthesis is necessary if an affix would form a non-permissible cluster at a word boundary. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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