Diphthong simplification through spreading: An Optimality Theory account

Abstract

This article examines diphthong simplification in the English speech of Shona L1 speakers, focusing on glide epenthesis, which is analysed as spreading, and substitution. Previous researches of African varieties of English have repeatedly shown that most of these varieties, like many indigenous African languages, do not tolerate complex syllable nuclei such as diphthongs and triphthongs. Consequently, all English diphthongs and triphthongs are prone to monophthongisation through simplification strategies such as glide epenthesis, glide formation, deletion and substitution. Our analysis employs analytical tools from the Unified Feature Geometry (UFG) model and Optimality Theory (OT). Glide epenthesis involves spreading of place features from input coronal or labial vowels resulting in homorganic oral glides: [j] and [w] respectively. This pattern of diphthong simplification is in keeping with the processes of Shona native phonology, which spread V-Place features to create hiatus breakers such as [j, w, ].