Yurok Syllable Weight

Abstract

This paper examines syllable weight in Yurok, a highly endangered Algic language of northwestern California. A productive truncation process has only a two‐way weight contrast between light and heavy syllables, shortening nouns to a bimoraic word minimum, CVV or CVC. Within the prominence system, however, CVV and CVC syllables must be distinguished. Syllables with long vowels in Yurok always attract stress and are realized with a steady high pitch on the stressed syllable, while CVC syllables do not attract stress. Additional issues addressed include the syllabification of preglottalized sonorants and laryngeal codas.