The Phonological Processes in Olumarama: Nc Effects and Vowel Hiatus
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THE PHONOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN OLUMARAMA: NC EFFECTS AND VOWEL HIATUS BY GEORGE NANJIRA MULAMA C50/CE/28074/2013 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH AND LINGUISTICS OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY FEBRUARY, 2019. ii DECLARATION iii DEDICATION To my dearest mother, Jane Sekokhe Manyani, My father, Fredrick Godfrey Nanjira Mulama: Your pursuit of knowledge lives on in us iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS God has been at the centre of every milestone reached and He has propelled me to the finish line. I am extremely grateful to my supervisors; Dr. Nandelenga and Dr. Ayieko, for their great insights that have helped shape this work into its present form. I also thank Professor Marlo of the University of Missouri for his insights and resources that have been of immeasurable value. I thank Dr. Hilda Kebeya for her invaluable input throughout this whole process. I thank Dr. Ndung’u for fostering my interest in OT through a class presentation that we made on the theory. I cannot forget both the academic and support staff, in the department of Literature, Languages and Linguistics for their help. I also thank my uncle Washington, aunt Sarah, Samuel, Ann, Brian, Jackline, Roselyn, Victor, Rumona, Francis, Miriam, Leah, Mary, Catherine, Lilian, Javan, Amukoya for their encouragement and support. I am, however, responsible for the shortcomings in this research work. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ............................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................... v ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................ ix LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................... x OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS .................................................. xi ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background to the Study .............................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................... 11 1.3 Research Objectives ................................................................................... 12 1.4 Research Questions .................................................................................... 12 1.5 Research Assumptions ............................................................................... 13 1.6 Justification and Significance of the Study ................................................ 13 1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study ........................................................... 14 1.8 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................... 16 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ........ 16 2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................ 16 2.1 The Syllable and Phonological Processes .................................................. 16 vi 2.1.1 The Bantu and the Luhya Syllable Structure .......................................... 20 2.1.2 Olumarama Syllable Structure ................................................................ 23 2.1.3 NC Effects ............................................................................................... 27 2.1.4 Vowel Hiatus Resolution ........................................................................ 33 2.2 Theoretical framework ............................................................................... 37 2.3 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................... 43 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................. 43 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................ 43 3.1 The Research Design ................................................................................. 43 3.2 Location of the Study ................................................................................. 43 3.3 The Study Population ................................................................................. 44 3.4 The Sample and Sampling Procedure ........................................................ 44 3.5 Research Instruments ................................................................................. 45 3.6 Data Collection .......................................................................................... 46 3.7 Data Analysis and Presentation ................................................................. 47 3.8 Data Management and Ethical issues ........................................................ 47 3.9 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................... 48 CHAPTER FOUR .......................................................................................... 49 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION ...................................................... 49 4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................ 49 4.1 NC Effects and Related Processes ............................................................. 49 4.1.1 Nasal + Voiceless Stops .......................................................................... 54 4.1.2 Nasal + Voiceless Fricative .................................................................... 63 4.1.3 Nasal + Voiced Fricative ........................................................................ 68 4.1.4 Nasal + Liquids ....................................................................................... 78 vii 4.1.5 Nasal + Affricate ..................................................................................... 90 4.1.6 Nasal + Nasal Sequence .......................................................................... 94 4.2 Vowel Hiatus Resolution and Related Processes....................................... 97 4.2.1 Glide Formation ...................................................................................... 99 4.2.2 Vowel deletion ...................................................................................... 109 4.2.3 Vowel Height Coalescence ................................................................... 117 4.2.4 Consonant Epenthesis ........................................................................... 124 4.3 Chapter Summary .................................................................................... 129 CHAPTER FIVE ......................................................................................... 130 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............. 130 5.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 130 5.1 Summary of Research Findings ............................................................... 130 5.2 Conclusions from the Research Findings ................................................ 131 5.3 Recommendations for Further Research .................................................. 132 REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 135 APPENDICES .............................................................................................. 139 Appendix A1: Data Verification Form .......................................................... 139 Appendix A2: Data Collected ........................................................................ 147 Appendix A3: Research Clearance Permit .................................................... 155 Appendix A4: Research Authorization .......................................................... 156 viii ABBREVIATIONS C Consonant Co Coda CGV Consonant Glide Vowel CV Consonant Vowel I-O Input – Output mapping NC Nasal Consonant OCP Obligatory Contour Principle OT Optimality Theory P Prefix 1S First person singular 2S Second person singular SSP Sonority Sequencing Principle V Vowel V1 Vowel one in a vowel hiatus V2 Vowel two in a vowel hiatus ix LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Olumarama Consonants…………………………………………....5 Table 1.2: Olumarama Vowel Trapezium……………………………………..7 Table 2.1: OT Symbols and their Representations…………………………...41 x LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: CV(V) Syllable Structure……………………………………….24 Figure 2.2: CCV(V) Syllable Structure……………………………………...25 Figure 2.3: V(V) Syllable Structure………………………………………….26 Figure 2.4: Nasal + Voiceless Stop