Phrase-level Prosodic Smothering in Makonde

Authors

  • Nicholas Revett Rolle Princeton University
  • Larry M. Hyman UC Berkeley

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3765/amp.v7i0.4458

Keywords:

prosody, syntax/phonology mapping, subcategorization, prosodic constituency, phrasal phonology, penultimate lengthening, Bantu

Abstract

This paper focuses on the issue of 'prosodic idiosyncrasies' as it arises in the Bantu language Makonde [kde]. Recently, Bennett, Harizanov, & Henderson (2018) proposed 'prosodic smothering', whereby prosodic requirements of an outer morpheme override (i.e. 'smother') prosodic properties of inner morphemes. We extend their analysis to phrase-level phonology in Makonde. Previous description has established that whether a nominal modifier forms a single phonological phrase φ with the noun is an idiosyncratic property, e.g. a [noun adjective] phrase maps to 2 phonological phrases φ(n) φ(adj) while a [noun demonstrative] phrase forms a single phonological phrase φ(n dem). Prosodic smothering is seen in [noun adj dem] sequences which form a single φ(n adj dem) phonological phrase, where the adj has been 'entrapped' and its prosody 'smothered'. We highlight three contributions which Makonde makes to understanding smothering: (i) smothering targets the lexical head, (ii) smothering is both inward-oriented (a morphological relation) and leftward-oriented (a linear relation), and (iii) a limited amount of outward smothering is parasitic on the presence of inward smothering. From the smothering facts in Makonde, we conclude that prosody is established at two stages: first, prosodic idiosyncrasies apply at spell-out (i.e. the mapping from syntax to phonology), followed by default prosodification which is established within the phonological module itself.

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Published

2019-06-01

Issue

Section

Supplemental Proceedings