A Systematic Reconstruction Of The Phonology Of Proto-Luyia: A Comparative Analysis.

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to undertake a reconstruction of the phonology of Proto-Luyia, the earlier parent stage in the Luyia dialects, within the comparative method framework. This study outlined and analyzed the sound inventory of Lunyore, Lulogooli, Lunyala, Lubukusu, Luwanga, Lwidakho and Lusamia with the aim of establishing their phonological relatedness and subsequently reconstructing the sound system of their protolanguage. The research also endeavoured to identify the phonological retentions and innovations within the reconstructed Proto-Luyia and its dialects and afterwards, highlight the phonological processes and rules that may have motivated the variations in sound between the parent language and its daughter languages spoken today. The data was collected though online structured interviews on google meet and zoom. This study found that Lunyore, Lulogooli, Lunyala, Lubukusu, Luwanga, Lwidakho and Lusamia were phonologically related based on the close resemblance that exists in their phonemic inventory. The numerous similarities and minimal variations in their phonemes indicated the presence of a genetic relationship between the dialects having descended from a similar parent language. This research established that the phonemes of Proto-Luyia comprise twenty-four consonant sounds and seven vowel sounds. The present research also established that some of the dialects of Luyia had undergone lenition and fortition processes during their historical development which explained the variations in their sound system from that of their parent language.