A study of the supra-segmental features of ki-ndia dialect of Gikuyu language
Abstract
This study is an investigation of Ki-Ndia suprasegmental features. The features under
investigation are vowel harmony, nasalization and tone. These features posed a problem to
Generative Phonologists because of their ability to spread to other segments within their
domain. In an attempt to solve the problem, Goldsmith (1976) proposed the Autosegmental
Phonological Theory (APT) to handle features larger than the segment which are called
suprasegmental features in Autosegmental Phonology. In this study, Ki-Ndia suprasegmental
features are analyzed within APT’s framework.
The data used in the study comprise nouns and verbs derived from the Ki-Ndia lexicon. It
was collected through participant-observation method, native speaker informants and native
speaker intuition method.
In the study, Ki-Ndia segmental phonology and word classification are first highlighted. This
is done to show the phonemic inventory and the syllable structure on which Ki-Ndia lexicon
is founded. Subsequently, Ki-Ndia nouns and verbs are analyzed for vowel harmony,
nasalization and tone within APT’s framework. The analysis culminates in a chapter that
shows how the three features relate to each other in the dialect.
Generally, the results of the analysis reveal partial and complete vowel harmonies,
progressive and regressive nasal assimilation processes and register tone patterns with traces
of contour tones. Specifically, these results indicate the nature of vowel harmony, the nature
of nasalization and the form of tone found in the dialect.
Citation
Master Of Arts In LiteraturePublisher
University of Nairobi