Abstract
This study investigates the segmental lengthening patterns resulting from prosodic boundaries in Tswana, a Southern Bantu language. The aim is to shed light on the interaction between Penultimate Lengthening and Final Lengthening, providing the first quantitative investigation of these phenomena in Tswana. We conducted a production experiment that applies a widely tested design to elicit production data of two different phrasal structures in coordinated noun phrases. The results suggest that Penultimate Lengthening and Final Lengthening constitute independent mechanisms, which both apply in Tswana. Penultimate Lengthening occurs before prosodic phrase boundaries as well as before word boundaries, yet at differing degrees. Before phrase boundaries, it involves a strong lengthening effect on the vowel of the penultimate syllable. Before word boundaries, the amount of lengthening is smaller. Final lengthening operates on the final syllable before a phrase boundary, involving a larger amount on the final vowel than on the preceding consonant. This pattern is in line with the pattern observed in other languages. The amount of lengthening on the final vowel is comparable to the amount on the penultimate vowel. Given that a large increase of lengthening on the penultimate syllable has not been observed in connection with Final Lengthening, we assume that Penultimate Lengthening constitutes a language-specific mechanism that applies independently. Final Lengthening, on the other hand, might be a universal phenomenon. The perceptual salience of Penultimate Lengthening, which has been widely reported in the literature for Bantu languages, might have to do with the dynamics within the lengthening domains, namely that the lengthening in penultimate position is abrupt and relatively stronger than in final position when compared to the preceding syllable.
Highlights
In Bantu languages, prosodic phrasing has been shown to be relevant for syntactic structure and information structure
The present study offers a preliminary exploration of lengthening at the word level, comparing the duration of vowels in penultimate and final position in words that were not produced immediately preceding a prosodic phrase boundary
Several consultations with native speakers of Tswana suggested that such structures are well-formed in Tswana and that prosodic phrasing constitutes a means of resolving the ambiguity
Summary
In Bantu languages, prosodic phrasing has been shown to be relevant for syntactic structure and information structure. In the area of information structure, prosodic phrasing has been investigated in connection with focus and topic (see Downing and Hyman 2016 for an overview). It has been generalised that the “prosodic marking of focus in Bantu languages involves the establishment of focus-related phrasal domains that are only indirectly conditioned by focus” (Downing and Hyman 2016, section 41.3.3). A salient cue to prosodic phrasing in many Bantu languages is lengthening of a phrasepenultimate vowel (see Hyman 2013 for an overview). We present results from a pilot study conducted to explore the phonetic implementation and interplay of the two lengthening domains in Tswana, a Southern Bantu language.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
