University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A domain-based approach to Northern Sotho tonology: A Setswapo dialect

Monareng, William Malakia

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Description

Title
A domain-based approach to Northern Sotho tonology: A Setswapo dialect
Author(s)
Monareng, William Malakia
Issue Date
1993
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Kisseberth, Charles W.
Department of Study
Linguistics
Discipline
Linguistics
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Language, Linguistics
Language
eng
Abstract
  • This dissertation is an analysis of the tonal system of the Setswapo, a dialect of Northern Sotho within the general framework of Non-linear Phonology, namely, A Domain-Based Approach Phonology, Autosegmental Phonology and Underspecification.
  • The tonal system of Setswapo comprises of two surface tones, namely, high tone and low tone; and the words and phrases in this language exhibits considerable complex tonal alterations.
  • The goal of this dissertation is to provide tonal analysis Setswapo verb stems, noun stems and a brief account of phrasal tonology. It is shown that the tonal system of Setswapo may be accounted for by the the domain-structure building rules and interacting with rules that refer to the tonal features of the syllables. It is also shown that tonal rules operates within a tonal domain and cannot cross a domain boundary.
  • This dissertation is organized into five chapters. Chapter 1 describes the scope, the purpose, the motivation and the theoretical framework used in this dissertation. Chapter 2 describes the sound system, the morphology of words, and the syllable structure in Northern Sotho. Chapter 3 examines the tone patterns of the verb stem. It is shown that the tone behavior of the verb stems in this language can be accounted for by the interaction of the domain structure building rules and other tonal rules. Chapter 4 presents a description and analysis of grammatical tone. It is shown that some affixes in the Setswapo dialect of Northern Sotho contribute to the tonal changes of the words and phrases. Chapter 5 presents the tonal analysis of the nominal stems. In addition, phrasal tonology is examined, focusing on the tonal changes that the noun stems undergo in different phrasal contexts.
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/23032
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1993 Monareng, William Malakia

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