Intrusive stop formation in Zulu : an application of Feature Geometry Theory

[摘要] This study investigates the Intrusive Stop Formation process in Zulu. In thisprocess an intrusive stop arises when a nasal and fricative are juxtaposedresulting in the following seven affricate sounds /þf', {v, ts', dz, tñ', dL, tS'/. Thesesounds are theoretically distinct from the four affricate phonemes which occur inZulu, namely /kl', dZ, ts', tS'/. In this study the former are termed derivedaffricates and the latter pure affricates.Two aspects of Intrusive Stop Formation are focused on - firstly, determiningexperimentally whether durational differences obtain between pure and derivedaffricates and secondly, using the results of the experimental investigation tofacilitate a feature geometry description of the Intrusive Stop Formation process.In the experimental investigation nine affricate sounds were examined. Words,containing these sounds, were recorded in frame sentences by five speakers,using PRAAT, a speech–processing platform. The duration of the pure andderived affricates were then determined. It was found that pure affricates aredurationally longer than derived affricates.The next progression in this study was the incorporation of the experimentalresults into a feature geometry description of Intrusive Stop Formation. FeatureGeometry Theory has enjoyed acclaim because of its ability to retain DistinctiveFeature Theory – the crux of Phonology – in a nonlinear framework. However,Feature Geometry Theory faces challenges with regard to the extent to which itincludes phonetic detail; and its formalization technique. This study – IntrusiveStop Formation in Zulu : An Application of Feature Geometry Theory – brings a new perspective to Feature Geometry Theory with the incorporation of theDuration tier – significant for the description of the Intrusive Stop Formationprocess. Furthermore the study introduces a more efficient formalizationtechnique, which facilitates the explanation of the process.It is always incumbent upon endeavours like this study, which examine specificphonological processes, to show relevance. In the concluding section theapplication of the experimental approach and Feature Geometry Theory isevaluated in terms of the contribution made to the disciplines of HumanLanguage Technology and Speech Disorders.A compact disk accompanies this thesis. It contains the sound files,spectrograms and textgrids of the recorded data.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University