Syllable Structure of Oromo (Harar dialect) Based on Moraic Approach

Jamaica Kebede Dengela

doi:10.7176/jlll/71-01

Abstract

This concept focused on the syllable structure of Oromo (Harar dialect) based on moraic theory. Based on this concerned idea, it has attempted to describe the syllable types that occur in Harar Oromo. These are CV, CVC, CVV, and CVVC syllables. Therefore, based on the notion of the moraic theory, the language assigned CV and CVC syllables as light, whereas CVV and CVVC syllables as heavy. In connection with light and heavy syllables, it has revealed that mono-moraic syllable as light, while bi-moraic and tri-moraic syllables as heavy in Oromo (Harar dialect). In these types of syllables, in addition to vowels (short and long), consonant geminates and clusters bear only one mora in word-medial position. In Harar Oromo, word-initial and final consonant gemination and cluster are not allowed. In the language, each word has initial consonant in underlying representation. However, in surface representation onset-less words are presented due to the deletion of the voiceless glottal plosive sound /Ɂ /. Due to this fact, some words begin with the vowel /i/, /e/, /u/, /o/and /a/ in the language. However, because of the derivation of surface structure from the underlying representation, onset consonants are obligatory constituents. Keywords: Phonology, Syllable Structure, Moraic theory, Harar Oromo, light and heavy syllables, and gemination and cluster. DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/71-01 Publication date: August 31 st 2020

Highlights

The people call themselves Oromo and are the major linguistic group in Ethiopia
Of the above five syllable-internal structure models, the present research is based on the moraic model to determine the basic syllable structures of Harar Oromo
In the following examples we examine the pluralizing process and the syllable structures in view of the moras they contain

Summary

Introduction

The people call themselves Oromo and are the major linguistic group in Ethiopia. They live over a large area “stretching from close to the Sudan border in the West, through Addis Ababa, and beyond Harar in the East, from Northern Kenya in the south, up East of the rift valley, and to Wallo in the north” (Gragg 1982: xiii). Oromo has different official functions in the Oromiya regional state and in Oromiya zone of the Amhara region It is a regional official language, a medium of instruction in primary schools and in teacher training institutions (colleges). It is a field of study in different higher educational institutions such as Addis Ababa University, Jimma University, and Haramaya University etc. According to Blevins (1996:207) “The syllable...is the phonological unit which organizes segmental melodies in terms of sonority.”. This means, the syllable is a phonological structure consisting of such parts as nucleus and, if any, onset and coda as well as suprasegmental features. Blevins (1996:212) has listed the following five models of representing syllable structure

Ternary Branching : σ

Conclusion