The local nature of tone-association patterns

Bibliographic Data

ID20399521
AuthorsAdam Jardine (0000-0001-9436-8014, Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume34
Issue2
Pages363-384
Publication date2017-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhonology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0952-6757 • E-ISSN: 1469-8188
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0952675717000185
OpenAlexW2750462003
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited29

A computational notion of locality, based on forbidden substructures of a fixed size, is applied to autosegmental representations, and tone-association patterns are argued to be local. This is significant for phonological theory, for two reasons. First, this notion of locality provides for an explicit theory of tonal well-formedness that is superior to previous explanations in that it makes clear, restrictive typological predictions. Second, it provides a clear path for understanding how these patterns can be learned. A brief survey of major tone-association patterns shows that association generalisations which are edge-based (Mende and Hausa), quality-specific (Kukuya) or positional (Northern Karanga Shona) are all local in this way. This is contrasted with previous explanations of the typology, which require global reference to the directionality of association, and can thus overgenerate

Cognitive psychology · Geography · Hausa · Linguistics · Locality · Typology · Music and Audio Processing · Phonetics and Phonology Research · Psychology · Speech Recognition and Synthesis

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub