Abstract
This paper attempts a new analysis of the complex problem of the behavior and representation of the schwa vowel in Berber. The analysis, which tries to remedy the shortcomings of the previous studies in this area, relies on a theory of syllable structure (first sketched in work by Halle and Vergnaud (1980) ) in which phonological segments are represented in terms of three separate tiers: a tier of distinctive feature specifications called the ‘melody’, a skeletal tier of C's and V's, and a tier of Onsets and Rimes. On the basis of this theory, syllable-building rules are devised for the Kabyle dialect of Berber. A simple rule of schwa insertion seems to fit easily well within these rules. It is shown that the appearance of schwa in different forms is simply a reflex of the general Kabyle scheme for imposing a syllable structure on a string of consonants. The problem of general interest of whether syllabification is assigned at the word or phrase level is also discussed because of its relatedness to the problem of schwa in Berber.
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