The Consonants of Kitharaka

Abstract

This study tries to analyze and describe one aspect of the grammar of Kitharaka, an aspect that may appropriately be called 'consonantal phonology'. The study is carried out within the theoretical framework of Natural Generative Phonology. The study begins with a chapter on the introduction to the language and its speakers. The actual analysis begins in Chapter Two. In this chapter we try to determine the underlying consonants in Kitharaka. The consonants are classified into five sets: voiceless stops, prenasalized voiced stops, voiced fricatives, liquid,,and glides. Chapter Three discusses the role of markedness in determining the (underlying) consonant inventory of Kitharaka. A question is raised as to whether, in the case of Kitharaka consonant inventory, considerations of 'symmetry' do not override those of 'markedness'. Chapter Four deals with consonant processes under the subheadings of: homorganic nasal assimilation, continuant strengthening, /k/ dissimilation (a form of Dahl's Law), identical consonant deletion, and /t/ deletion. Chapter Five discusses stem reanalysis in some verbs and derivational nouns formed from such verbs. It is argued that stem reanalysis resulted in prefix replacement and that the new prefix was extended to borrowed words by analogy. Chapter Six, which is the conclusion to the study, includes: summary of the findings, remarks on areas that require further investigation; and, the practical significance of the study.