Abstract
This study examines the process of vowel epenthesis used by the Punjabi speakers to integrate the English consonant cluster at onset position of the syllable. English and Punjabi are two different phonological system where English allows consonant cluster and complex consonants at onset while Punjabi only allows complex consonants. Hence for the integration of syllables with consonant cluster, Punjabi speakers have to insert a vowel to make the consonant configuration according to Punjabi phonotactics. The data for this study are collected from recordings of focus group discussions, interviews and video clips. The data are analyzed by using CV phonology and Distinct Feature theory. The results suggest that Punjabi speakers insert vowels to modify the English consonant clusters according to Punjabi phonological environment. Thus, they add another vowel node and resyllabify the consonant clusters. The mid central /ə/ vowel is the default epenthetic vowel while in some cases /e/ is also used before the consonant clusters.
Highlights
This study examines the use of vowel epenthesis by the Punjabi speakers into the unrecognized consonant clusters of English words at the onset position
This study examines the process of vowel epenthesis used by the Punjabi speakers to integrate the English consonant cluster at onset position of the syllable
It is clear that all the clusters having CC or CCC configuration at onset of syllable are modified by inserting /ə/ vowel as anaptyxis
Summary
This study examines the use of vowel epenthesis by the Punjabi speakers into the unrecognized consonant clusters of English words at the onset position. The analysis of the data enfolds that the Punjabi speakers change the syllable structure of the English words and use the epenthesis of vowel as a modification strategy. This epenthesis of the vowel before and in the consonant cluster is due to the influence of Punjabi syllable typology. Punjabi language has taken a lot of words from English and integrated it in to Punjabi lexicon The integration of these words is done at phonological, morphological, syntactic and orthographical levels. One of the common strategies used by Punjabi speakers is the epenthesis of vowel in consonant clusters
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