Slide Set 11-Unexpected Tonal Patterns-F2024

Course Overview

  • Course: LING 331: Phonology 1

  • Instructor: H. Goad

  • Semester: Fall 2024

  • Slide Set: 11

  • Topic: Unexpected Tonal Patterns

Challenge: Adjacent Identical Tones

  • Identified Issue: Adjacent identical tones create tonal profiles that are difficult to account for.

Case Study: Efik Tone Analysis (Slides 3-4)

  • Example: Efik Verb [è-jé-kèfě] (meaning "you will come")

    • Tonal Profile: L - H - L / L H

  • Analysis of the Root [kèfě]:

    • Challenge: Two low tones precede a high tone.

    • Background Info on Efik:

      • Tonal association is from Left to Right (L-to-R).

      • Prefixes:

        • è is underlyingly Low (L) and floating.

        • jé is underlyingly High (H) and floating.

Hypotheses on Underlying Representation (Slide 4)

  • Proposed URs for [kèfě]:

    • a. /kefe, LLH/:

      • Source: L L H

      • Results in a correct-sounding surface representation (SR) but violates the OCP (Obligatory Contour Principle).

    • b. /kefe, LH/:

      • Source: L H

      • Results in an incorrect surface representation: [kèfé].

  • Task: Derive surface LLH from underlying L + H configurations.

Solution: Lexical Prespecification of Tone (Slide 5-6)

  • Key Challenge: How to derive surface LLH from underlying tones.

  • Solution Identified:

    • Prespecification of tones in the underlying representation (UR): L H

    • Correct prediction of [kèfě] by linking L to both vowels via prespecification.

Illustrating the Solution (Slide 7)

  • Surface Representation (SR): [è-jé-kèfě]

  • Underlying Representation (UR): Links tones to vowels in their respective configurations.

  • Tone Association: Uses UAC (Universal Association Convention); follows L-to-R pattern.

Questions and Clarifications (Slide 8)

  • Q1: Could the final H tone also be prespecified?

    • Answer: Yes, but only when necessary; here, a floating tone suffices.

  • Q2: Why is the L tone linked to the first TBU? Could it spread back?

    • Answer: No, due to L-to-R association; the spreading rule does not allow for backward linking in Efik.

Derivation and Analysis (Slides 9-10)

  • Illustration of Spreading Issues:

    • URs of Prefixes: /e/ (L, meaning "you") and /je/ (H, meaning "FUT")

    • Correct analysis prevents L from spreading backward due to the established direction of association (L-to-R).

    • Alternate Analysis Consideration: R-to-L spreading proposed outcomes would incorrectly predict tonal associations.

    • Conclusion: In Efik, floating tones take priority over prelinked tones, disallowing backward spreading.