Towa tones and stress.

Abstract

This paper reports on the phonetics of tones and stress in Towa, a Kiowa-Tanoan language of New Mexico. Towa words have an initial prominent syllable bearing either a high tone or a high falling tone. Long and short vowels also contrast in these initial syllables. Succeeding syllables, which permit only short vowels, may have high (after initial high only), mid, or low tone. (Words appear to have only two underlying tonal melodies, H or HL, with the L falling either on the first or the second syllable.) The basic realizations of initial high and falling tones resemble the Mandarin Chinese first and fourth tones. The contrast is reduced in short monosyllables, and there are notable contextual assimilatory effects. The main issue is whether initial syllable prominence should be attributed to the initial high pitch of words or to stress. On the basis of comparative durations, vowel quality reduction, and the phonetic consequences of prominence loss in compounds, incorporations, and successive initial syllables, it is argued that Towa initial syllables are stressed.