VVowelsowels of TaaTaaTaa(West !(West !Xoon!XoonXoonXoon)) and their acoustic properties
Afrikalinguistisches Kolloquium, 05. November 2013 Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Seminar für Afrikawissenschaften
Christfried Naumann
1. Introduction 2. Research questions 3. Procedure 4. Examples 5. First results
1 Introduction: Taa
"Khoisan" 1. Hadza (isolate) Hadza Sandawe 2. Sandawe (isolate) 3. Khoe-Kwadi Kwadi† Cape Khoekhoe† ǃOra-Xiri(†) Eini† Namibian Standard Khoekhoe (Nama-Damara, Haiǁom, ǂAakhoe) Kwadi† Shua (Cara, Deti†, ǀXaise, Danisi ...) Kxoe Tshwa (Kua ...) ǂAakhoe ǃXun Kxoe (Khwe, ǁAni ...; Ts'ixa ?) Haiǁom Shua Gǁana (incl. Gǀui) Juǀʼhoan Tshwa Naro (Naro, Tsʼao ...) Naro Herero Gǀui-Gǁana 4. Kxʼa Nama- TaaKgalagadi ǂʼAmkoe (NW) ǃXun Damara Lower Juǀʼhoan (incl. ǂXʼao-ǁʼaen) Nossob† Afrikaans ǁXegwi† ǂʼAmkoe (ǂHoan/Nǃaqriaxe, Sasi) Nǁng 5. Tuu ǃOra- Xiri(†) Eini† Taa (West ǃXoon, East ǃXoon, ...) Lower Nossob† (ǀʼAuni, ǀHaasi, ...) ǀXam† Nǁng (Nǀuu = ǂKhomani, ...) ǀXam† (Strandberg, Achterveld, ...) Cape Khoekhoe† 2 ǁXegwi† "San" Cf. Güldemann (in press). Introduction: Taa
Taa dialects
3 Introduction: Taa
Taa dialects Mamuno/Charles Hill Gobabis Okwa BOTSWANA Takatswane Central Tsachas Kalahari Tjaka/ Bere Uichenas Kacgae Ben Hur Kule Lone Tree Game Reserve Okomboha Ranyane Baruchwe Ncojane East ǃXoon Otjikoto Metsimantle Lokalane West ǃXoon Hunhukwe Okonyoka ǃAma Ncaang Ohe Leonardville Corridor 13 Ukwi Corridor 15 Tsetseng Okongowa Monong Make Aminuis Corridor 18 Kang Gunkas Corridor 17 Ngwatle Lotlhake Kumu Phephane Tswane Lehututu Phuduhudu Dutlwe Oorwinning Hukuntsi Maretswane Khekhenye Bosduin Morwamasu Aranos Zutshwa Tshane Tshaasi Inalegolo Kokong Kanaku NAMIBIA Mabutsane ǂHuan Kutuku Sekoma Khakhea Gochas Kgalagadi Kokhotsha Mabuasehube Transfrontier Goa Park Werda Makopong SOUTH ca. 50 km 4 CC-BY Naumann 2012 AFRICA Introduction: Taa vowels
Front Back Restrictions Close Mid Open Mid Close modal, oral i e a o u
nasal ĩ
pharyngealised aˁ
tense ~ glottalised aˀ
breathy a ̤
strident a ̳
(various combinations in diphtongs, including non-modal vowels in V1 and nasal vowels in V2, e.g. /u+i/, /u+ĩ/, /ṳ+i/, /ṳ+ĩ/, /o+e/, /o+a/, /o+ã/, /o̤+ã/, ...)
Lexical stems in native vocabulary:
C(C)V1CV2
C(C)V1N 5 C(C)V1V2 Boden et al. (2008) Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Introduction: Taa vowels
Khwe Ṽ Ts'ixa Juǀ'hoan Ṽ Shua Non-modal/non-oral Ṽ, Vˁ("Vʢ"), Vˀ, V̤ Ṽ Naro N.Kua vowels in selected Ṽ, Vˁ Ṽ Khoe, Kx'a and Tuu S.Kua Khoekhoe Gǀui Ṽ, Vˁ, V̳ languages Ṽ Taa Ṽ, Vˁ Ṽ, Vˁ, Vˀ, V̤, V̳ ǂ'Amkoe Ṽ, Vˁ, Vˀ
Nǁng ʢ ǃOra Ṽ, Vˁ ("V ") Ṽ ǀXam† Ṽ, Vˁ, Vˀ ?
Traill (1980), Fehn (p.c.), Gerlach (p.c.), Güldemann in Vossen (2013: 80), Haacke in Vossen (2013: 52ff.), Miller et al. (2009), 6 Miller in Vossen (2013: 46ff.), Nakagawa (2006), Visser in Vossen (2013: 60), Vossen in Vossen (2013: 71). Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Research questions
1. Distinct acoustic properties (plotting vowels) TWb130316-0110 [ ʔ a: ḁ ] 5000
4000
3000
2000 Frequency (Hz) Frequency
1000
0 12.05 12.4 Cf. broad band spectrogramTime (s) (window 0.005s) of Taa /ʔaa/ "you" for one male speaker. 5000
4000
3000
2000 Frequency (Hz) Frequency
1000
0 Vowels of American English (Peterson & Barney 1952) 12.05 12.4 Cf. narrow band spectrogramTime (s) (window 0.02s). 7 7 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Research questions
1. Distinct acoustic properties (plotting vowels)
1400
1300 q 1200 < aqh>
1100 (Hz) (Hz) (Hz) (Hz) 1000 1 1 1 1 F F F F 900 h 800
700
600 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25
HarmonicsHarmonicsHarmonics-Harmonics---totototo----noisenoise rationoise ratio Plot of F1 vs. harmonics-to-noise ratio of four phonation types for one female speaker of West !Xoon (Boden et al. 2008) 8 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Research questions
2. Simple underlying contrast /a, aˁ, aˀ, a̤, a̳/ vs. /u, uˁ, uˀ, ṳ, u̳/ in V1? (Nakagawa 2010 for Gǀui) >> /u/ vs. /o/ in V1 in Taa?
Nakagawa (2010: 31)
9 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Research questions
3. More research questions
• allophones & allophonic variation
• phonological representation of [i:], [e:], etc. (/a+i/ ~ /i+i/ ?, /a+e/ ~ /e+e/ ?, etc.)
• consistent representation of [u] vs. [o] (e.g., for q__, !__ )
• further phonotactic restrictions (e.g., in diphtongs)
>> phonological questions for a concise description of West ǃXoon
10 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Procedure
Background • phonological analysis – structuralist linguistics: through minimal pairs (tea vs. pea, contrast in identical environments ) > sound categories (phonemes) by function (differentiation of meaning) – (acoustic / articulatory data secondary)
• here: (hybrid categorical) usage-based approach (Pierrehumbert 2001, 2003, 2006) – phonemes = sound categories with frequency distributions on the phonetic level to one abstract unit on the discrete phonological level – > primary phonetic properties, secondary usage in sound systems – equivalent to contrast in analogous environments ("no plausible statement of environmental conditioning") (cf. Burquest 2006: 35) – distinct (non-overlapping) distributions (clusters) for comparable environments, e.g., F1 + F2 values for vowels #{t/th/d/s/z/l}___{t/th/d/s/z/l}#
11 Burquest (2006:35) Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Procedure
• March 2013: elicitation of words (in isolation) • one female and two male speakers • ca. 1500 ~ 750 vowels • different contexts:
• C1__C(V) (C1 = anterior egressive or ʔ)
• C1 __ __ [CVV] • ǀ__C(V), ǀ__ __ • ǃ__C(V), ǃ__ __ • Q__C(V), Q__ __ (Q - uvular egressive) • CVC__ • annotation/labelling in PRAAT • script-run measurements • duration • F1, F2, F3 (at 1/8, 2/8 ... 7/8) • shimmer, jitter, harmonics-to-noise ratio • H1, H2, "A1" • centre of gravity • extraction of long-term average spectra ("LTAS", 1-1 and 12 bandwidth = mean F0) Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Examples
Modal vowel /a/ (/ʔaa/ "you.SG", anaphoric pronoun)
TWb130316-0110 [ ʔ a: ḁ ] 5000 40
4000 30 Hz) /
20 3000
10 2000
Frequency (Hz) Frequency 0
1000 (dB Soundlevel pressure -10
0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 10.52 10.686 11 Frequency (Hz) Time (s) Narrow band spectrogram (window 0.015s) of Taa Spectral slice from 10.686 s +/- 20ms (= 1/4 of /ʔaa/ "you" for one male speaker. vowel length).
13 13 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Examples
Nasal vowel /ã/ (/ʔaã/ "it", anaphoric pronoun, agreement class 2i)
TWb130316-0110 [ ʔ ã: ḁ ] 5000 40
4000 30 Hz) /
20 3000
10 2000 Frequency (Hz) Frequency 0
1000 (dB Soundlevel pressure -10
0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 26.46 26.794 27.05 Frequency (Hz) Time (s) Narrow band spectrogram (window 0.015s) of Taa Spectral slice from 26.794 s +/- 20ms. /ʔaã/ "it" for one male speaker.
14 14 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Examples
Pharyngealised vowel /aˁ/ (/aˁa/ "father")
TWb130316-0110 [ aˁ a ḁ ] 5000
40 4000 Hz) / 30 3000 20
2000 10 Frequency (Hz) Frequency
Sound pressure level (dB level Sound pressure 0 1000
-10 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 62.96 63.162 63.58 Frequency (Hz) Time (s) Narrow band spectrogram (window 0.015s) of Taa Spectral slice from 63.162 s +/- 20ms (= 1/4 of /aˁa/ "father" for one male speaker. vowel length).
15 15 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Examples
Glottalised vowel /aˀ/ (/taˀa/ "you here")
TWb130316-0110 [ t aˀ a ḁ ] 5000
40 4000 Hz) / 30
3000 20
2000 10 Frequency (Hz) Frequency
0 1000 (dB Soundlevel pressure
-10 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 517.7 517.945 518.3 Frequency (Hz) Time (s) Narrow band spectrogram (window 0.015s) of Taa Spectral slice from 517.945 s +/- 20ms (= 1/4 of /taˀa/ "you here" for one male speaker. Formant vowel length). contours in red, intensity contour in white.
16 16 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Examples
Breathy vowel /a̤/ (/ta̤a/ "to refuse")
TWb130316-0110 [ t a̤ (a) ḁ ] 5000 40
30 4000 Hz) / 20 3000 10
2000
Frequency (Hz) Frequency 0
1000 (dB Soundlevel pressure -10
0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 191.8 192.033 192.4 Frequency (Hz) Time (s) Narrow band spectrogram (window 0.015s) of Taa Spectral slice from 192.033 s +/- 20ms (= 1/4 of /ta̤a/ "to refuse" for one male speaker. Formant vowel length). contours in red, intensity contour in white.
17 17 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) Examples
Strident vowel /a̳/ (/a̳a/ "porridge")
TWb130316-0110 [ ʔ a̳ a ḁ ] 5000
30 4000 Hz) / 20 3000 10
2000 0 Frequency (Hz) Frequency
1000 (dB Soundlevel pressure -10
-20 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 77.01 77.218 77.62 Frequency (Hz) Time (s) Narrow band spectrogram (window 0.015s) of Taa Spectral slice from 77.218 s +/- 20ms (= 1/4 of /a̳a/ "porridge" for one male speaker. Formant vowel length). contours in red, intensity contour in white.
18 18 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: Phonetic properties
F2
2800 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 100 ih u 200
i 300
400 i' e' o 500 e 600 F1
700 ah a 800
> 5 phonetic clusters 900 by F1 x F2 aq > modal and non-modal aqh 1000 phonations similar 1100 Vowels in C__ __ context (with formant quality of V1 = V2): F1 vs. F2 for male speaker 278-FT 19 19 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results:F2 Phonetic properties
3200 3000 2800 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 Same procedure for a second speaker
200
300
400
500
600
700
800 F 1
900
1000
> similar contrasts 1100 > mid vowels more closed 1200
Vowels in C__ __ context (with formant quality of V1 = V2): F1 vs. F2 for female speaker 276-JT
20 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: Phonetic properties
> [i:], [e:], [a:], [o:], [u:], [ i̤:], ... in the context of C_ _# • complementary distribution (front vowel) monophtongs – diphtongs:
after coronal egressives, after uvular egressives, dental and palatal clicks bilabial, alveolar and lateral clicks (e.g., t__, s__, ǀ__, ǂ__, ...) (e.g., q__, χ__, ʘ__, ǃ__, ǁ__, ...)
[i:] ✓ − --> [i:], [ i̤:], [iʼ:], [e:], [e':] [ai] − ✓ analysable as /ai/, /a̤/, /a'i/, /ae/, /a'e/ [e:] ✓ − (previously known) [ae] − ✓ aber: [a:] ✓ ✓
[o:] ✓ ✓ [ao] ✓ ✓ ?
[u:] ✓ ✓ [au] ✓ ✓ 21 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: Phonetic properties
45
40
35
30 aq
25 20 a' 15 a
10A1-H1
05 00 aqh -05 ah -10 --> good separation of different phonation -15 qualities by H1 x A1-H1! -20
-25 15 20 25 30 35 H1 40 45 50 55 60
22 22 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: Phonetic properties
Vgl. Spektra: [a:] [aˁ:] 40 A1 H1 40 30 Hz) Hz) / / 30 20
20 10 H2 10 0 Sound pressure level (dB level Sound pressure Sound pressure level (dB level Sound pressure 0 -10
-10 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) [aˀ:] [a̤:] 40
40 30 Hz) Hz) / 30 / 20
20 10
10 0
0 Sound pressure level (dB level Sound pressure Sound pressure level (dB level Sound pressure -10
-10 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 23 Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: Phonetic properties
A similar arrangement 70
65
60
55
50 a a' A1 (dB) ah
45 aq aqh
40
35
30 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 H1 (dB) S ize of bubbles represents H2 24 Open vowels of different phonation qualities in C__ CV context (C1 – all consonants)for male speaker 278-FT Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: Phonetic properties
60.0 Vowels in V1: H1 (dB) (10th percentile - mean - 90th percentile)
55.0 54.7 54.0 53.753.8 53.5 53.0 51.751.5 51.0 50.0 51.3 50.449.7 50.1 48.9 48.7 48.3 47.6 47.4 45.0 45.5 45.3 44.3 44.2 43.9 42.5 43.1 43.4 43.1 41.6
40.7 40.0 39.3 39.0 39.1 37.8 38.0 36.5 37.6 36.9 36.9 36.0 34.8 34.9 35.0 34.6
33.5 32.4 31.8 31.6 30.830.4 30.0 29.8
--> good separation of dif- 25.0 ferent phonation qualities by 22.5 H1 and related parameters 21.3
20.0 across formant qualities
a e i o u a' o' u' ah oh uh aq oq uq aqh oqh uqh
25 Vowels of different phonation qualities in C__ C(V)# contexts (C1 – all consonants) for male speaker 278-FT Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: Contrast in Ccor_C(V)
F2
2800 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 100
u 200 i uh 300
u' 400
500 e 600 o F1 note: 700 •front vowels only in prefixes (si-), proper names and loans, 800 such as Thenn-Thenn [name] or selfonn a 900 aqh aq 1000
1100 Vowels in C__C(V) context (C1 = anterior egressive or glottal): F1 vs. F2 for male speaker 278-FT 26 26 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: [a] : [o] : [u] ? in Ccor_C(V)
[a] : [o] : [u] in Ceggr.cor__C# (male speakerF2 278-FT)
2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700100
200 u 300
400
500 o
600 F1 tendency (native stems): • [o] _m • [u] _n 700
a 800
900
1000
1100 27 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: [a] : [o] : [u] ? in Ccor_C(V)
[a] : [o] : [u] in Ceggr.cor__C# (female speaker 276-JT)
F2
2200 2100 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700100
u(',h) 200
300
400
500 o(') > partial neutralisation 600 F1 [u] ~ [o]?
700
800 a(',h) 900
1000
28 1100 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: [a] : [o] : [u] ? in Ccor_C(V)
[a] : [o] : [u] in !__C(V)# (male speaker 278-FT) F2
2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700100
200
300
400
500
> partial neutralisation 600 F1 [u] ~ [o]?
700
800
900
1000
29 1100 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) First results: [a] : [o] : [u] ? in Ccor_C(V)
[a] : [o] : [u] in !__C(V)# (female speaker 276-JT) F2
2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700100
neutralisation u - o ?! 200 (u lowered, fine quality 300 depending on context) 400
500
> partial neutralisation 600 F1 [u] ~ [o]!
700
800
900
1000
30 1100 Vowels of Taa (West ǃXoon) References
Acknowledgements to: • Annika Vosseler (data preparation) • Sven Grawunder (scripts)
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