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The Phonology of Nasal-Obstruent Sequences by Samuel Rosenthall a Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Resear

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The Phonology of Nasal-Obstruent Sequences by Samuel Rosenthall a Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Resear Iii , The Phonology of Nasal-Obstruent Sequences by Samuel Rosenthall A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfùlment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Linguistics © Samuel Rosenthall McGill University August 1989 Montreal, Quebec c ( ABSTRACf This thesis presents an analysis of the phonological processes that affect contiguous nasal and obstruent segments. These phonological p!ocesses include voice, manner and place assimilation as well as deletion and coalescence. The goal of this thesis IS to accoun t for these seemingly disparate processes by introducing universal constraints on the representation of segments in non-linear phonology. Deriving these processes from the principles of a theory of representation is beneficial because such an analysis is not possible in a theory that appeals only to rules. The result is a theory of phonology with greater explanatory adequacy than a theory that relies on mIes. Chapter 1 con tains a review of the history of the representation of segments and the representation of assimilation as weIl as a discussion of the theoretical assump:ions used throughout the thesis. Chapter 2 contains a discussion of the phonological processes as they occur during the formation of prenasalized consonants. These processes are shown to ( be triggered by the representation of prenasaHzed consonants and a theory of underspecification. Chapter 3 proposes an analysis of the universal characteristics of nasal­ obstruent place assimilation which is then extended to explain sorne universal properties of consonantal assimilation in general. c .. " RESUME • Le présent mémoire consiste en une analyse non-linéaire des processus phonologiques qui résultent du contact d'une nasale et d'une obstruente. Notre but est de démontrer que ces divers processus--voisement, assimilation de point et de mode d'articulation, élision et contraction--découlent tous de contraintes universelles sur la représentation des segments et non de l'application de règles spécifiques. Dans le chapitre l, nous présentons un bref historique de la représentations des segments et du traitement des processus d'assimilation ainsi que les présupposés théoriques que sous-tendent notre analyse. Après avoir décrit les processus phonologiques qu'implique le contact d'une nasale et d'une obstruente, nous démontrons, dans le chapitre 2, que ces processus sont déclenchés par la représentation des consonnes prénasalisées et la sous-spécification. Enfin, dans le chapitre 3, nous établissons les propriétés universelles de l'assimilation de point d'articulation entre nasale et obstruente et les appliquons à l'assimilation des consonnes en général. ... ACKNO~EME~ITS 1 wish to thank rny advisor G. L. Piggott who se wisdom and red ink has !ouched every page of this thesis. Every appointment (good or bad) was a learning experience. 1 am very grateful. 1 also wish to thank aIl the linguists who have commented on different aspects of this thesis. In particular, 1 wish to thank Leslie Barratt who was a1ways helpful and aiw:\ys willing to answer that infamous question tt.at begins "Do you know a language ... " Louise Glackmeyer, Henrietta Hung, Alan Libert, Dave Lipscomb, Dean Mellow, Alan Munn, Ben Shaer, and everyone at McGill must be thanked for making it worth my while to show up in the department day afler day. Henrietta Hung anJ Ben Shaer deserve special mention for not only the much appreciated proofreading and humour, but also for helping me survive the highs and lows (both thesis-related and unrelated) that 1 endured while writing this thesis. Shayna Shapiro and Harvey Yelen also helped me through the thesis with their friendship and sorne eleventh-hour proofreading. Only reill ( friends would help with such a chore on a subject that must seem so boring. 1 think they actually leamed some linguistics in the end. Lastly, l wish to thank rny parents Leonard and Devorah, my brother Gary, rny sister Wendy, and rny brother-in·law Gerry. Their encouragement, advise, and love made this thesis possible. c IV o TABLE OF CONTENTS ChMHer 1: Introduction 1.0 IntrOOuction ................... , ........................................ , . .. .. .. .. 1 1.1 Historical Background. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 1.1.1 Nasal-Obstruent Assimilation ........................................................3 1.1.2 Prenasalized Consonants ............................................................. 6 1.2 Theoretical Preliminaries ........................................................... .1 0 1.2.1 Feature Geometry .................................................... , .............. 10 1.2.2 'fheory ofUnderspecification ...................................................... 13 1.2.3 Underlying Representation ........................................................ 15 1.2.4 Syllable Structure.,. t •••• Il' Il .,' •••• ", l'' Il •• , •••••••• " •• , , •••• ,. Il ••••••• """ •• , 17 1.3 Principles and Parameters in Phonology .......................................... 18 1.3.1 A&P's Parameters of Assimilation ................................................ 22 ,.- 1.4 Conclusion ........................................................................... 24 1.5 A Note on Transcription ........................................................... 24 Chapter 2: PrenasaliZed Stops 2.0 Introduction .......................................................................... 26 2.1 The Representation of PrenasalizedStops .........................................27 2.2 The Representation of Prenasalized Stops on the Root Tier .................... 29 2.2.1 Evidence for Two Root Nodes .................................................... 30 2.2.1.1 Autosegll1ental Spreading .......................................................... 30 2.2.1.2 Prenasalized Fricatives ........................................................... 1,31 2.2.1.3 Sinhalese Gemination ............................................................... 32 2.3 Unification (Prer.asalized Stop Formation) ....................................... 35 2.4 More on the Representation of Prenasalized Stops .............................. 36 ~- 2.4.1 The Contour Node Condition ...................................................... 37 J ~ , \1 ( 2.5 Phonetic Adjustn1ent Processes ................................................... 42 2.5.1 Post-nasal Voicing .................................................................. 43 2.5.2 Post-nasal Hardening ............................................................... 44 2.5.3 Nasal Deletion ... il il ••••• il il il il il. il il' il. il il. il iI.t il il il" il il il il il il •• il ..... il il •• il il il il'. il il il il il il il il .. il •••••• 45 2.5.4 Coalescence ....... il Il •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 49 2.6 More Phonetic Adjustment Processes ............................................ 52 2.6.1 The Hardening of Glides. il il il il il il. il il il il il il il il il" il il. il il il' il il il' il il il il il il il' il il il il il il il il il il il il. il il il il il t" 52 2.6.2 The Hardening of Liquids......................................................... 53 2.6.3 De-Implosion ........................................................................ 55 2.7 Other Prenasalized Consonants. .. .. .. ...... ... ... ... .. .. .. ... ... .. ... .. .. 56 2.8 Conclusion. .. .. .. .... ..... ...... .. .. ... ........ ... .. .. .. ................ 60 Chapter 3: Nasal -Obstruent Assimilation 3.0 Introduction .......................................................................... 62 ( 3.1 The Nature of Nasal-Obstruent Assimilation .................................... 62 3.2 Inverse Contours .................................................................... 64 3.3 A Theory of Nasal-Stop Assimilation ............................................. 70 3.3.1 A Case Study: Diola-Fogny ........................................................ 74 3.4 Sorne Consequences of Inverse Contours ....................................... 78 3.5 Constraints on Progressive Assimilation ......................................... 83 3.6 Conclusion ........................................................................... 85 Chapter 4: Conc1udin~ Remarks 4.0 Residual Problems .................................................................. 86 4.1 Concluding Remarks ............................................................... 88 References ....................................................................................... 90 c VI o CHAPTER 1 Introduction 1.Q. Introduction This thesis is an investigation of various phenomena that occur in the context of adjacent nasal and obstruent segment:.;. These phenornena are deletion, coalescence, and a variety of assimilation processes. The purpose of the investigation is to account for sorne univers al aspects of the phenomena associated with adjacent nasal and obstruent segments by appealing to the principles of a theory of representation. Adjacent ~ ",saIs and obstruents appear in two structures: 1. prenasalized consonants and 2. nasal-obstruent c1usters. AlI of the phenomena to be investigated occur in both structures, but the discussion here mostly considers these phenomena within the context of prenasalized consonants. Most of the discussion of prenasaiized consonants concerns the behaviour of adjacent nasals and stops because these sequences are more prevalent. The analyses of nasal-stop sequences are ~ Jo subequently extended to include
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