Syncope Through Gemination in Turkish: Exploring the Role of Sufficiently Identical Flanking Consonants

Abstract

This paper investigates the interplay of syncope and gemination in modern Standard Turkish, underlining the crucial function of sufficiently identical flanking consonants (SIFCs) in this process. Syncope, typified by the elimination of a vowel within specific phonological contexts, holds the potential to give rise to gemination. A thorough analysis of varied spoken language data uncovers the conditions that govern syncope, countering prevalent literature which postulates syncope as a lexical process; instead, our findings suggest it to be phonological in nature. Attention is then directed towards syncope-induced gemination, emphasizing the catalytic role of SIFCs. This focus further underscores the indispensable role that SIFCs perform in facilitating this complex process. Moreover, the unique interplay between syncope and the potential for gemination is systematically explored, disclosing intricate patterns of consonant interaction within the Turkish language. The findings suggest that Turkish phonology exhibits a compelling alignment with gemination language characteristics, yielding thought-provoking insights into phonological processes such as vowel deletion and consonant gemination. The results of this novel research initiative contribute significantly to the expanding body of studies on syncope and gemination, shedding light on the intricate interplay between the two in Turkish, while also providing insights for the examination of analogous phenomena in other languages.