Palatalization in Northern Sotho

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the phonological process of Palatalization in Northern Sotho. In view of the factthat most available descriptions of this phenomenon are taxonomic in nature, this study sets out toemploy two more recent phonological models in the description and explanation of this process.Description of the core components of, respectively, the classical linear Transformational Generative(TG) model of Chomsky and Halle (1968) and a non-linear Feature Geometry (FG) model (cfClements and Hume, 1995) mark the first chapter of this study This is followed by a detailed TGdescription in which it is argued that a number of other phonological processes are also involved 10 theprocess of Palatalization. It is demonstrated that a Semivocalization process actually serves as theinput to a classical rule of palatalization, i.e. the assimilation of a [+ high] feature to a precedingconsonant. It is demonstrated that a feeding-bleeding rule ordering is necessary to derive the requiredoutput In this process an optional rule of Semivowel deletion also plays a role, especially in the caseof the labio-velar semivowel lw/. This analysis is followed by an FG analysis stressing the fact thatthis non-linear model does not involve the concept of rule ordering or derivational schemes. Themechanisms of Spreading and Delinking of hierarchically ordered nodes are demonstrated m asystematic fashion. Due to the fact that the phonological representation does not allow for othersuccessive processes to apply, it is shown that the FG model is not able to account for all of the soundchanges in a credible manner The conclusion is eventually drawn that the TG model describes and explains the phenomenon of Palatalization in Northern Sotho more elegantly and comprehensively than the more recent FG model.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University