SOME ASPECTS OF THE ILCHAMUS PHONOLOGY BY LENTETE, SAITEWUA SAMUEL C50/61409/2013 A research project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in Linguistics in the University of Nairobi 2016 i DECLARATION This research project is my original work and has not been submitted for examination in any other university. …………………………………………… DATE……………………..……… LENTETE, SAITEWUA SAMUEL This research project has been submitted for examination with our approval as the university supervisors …………………………………………… DATE……………………..……… DR. ODUOR, JANE AKINYI NGALA …………………………………………… DATE……………………..……… DR. JERONO PRISCA ii DEDICATION TO GOD ALMIGHTY, NIPANOI, LELITE iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DECLARATION.................................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION.................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................. ix LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................... x ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background to the Study .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem ............................................................................. 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Research Hypotheses.................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Justification of the Study .............................................................................................. 5 1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study ............................................................................... 6 1.7 Definition of Concepts and Terms ............................................................................... 6 1.8 Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 7 1.9 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................ 8 1.10 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 12 1.10.1 Data Collection .................................................................................................. 13 1.10.2 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................... 13 1.11 Summary .................................................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 15 THE ILCHAMUS VOWELS............................................................................................ 15 2.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Short and Long Vowels .............................................................................................. 15 2.2.1 Long Vowels........................................................................................................ 17 2.3 The fully specified Distinctive Feature Matrix of the vowels in Ilchamus language 21 2.4 V1V2 Vowel Sequence versus Monophthongs ........................................................... 21 2.4.1 V1 V2 Vowels sequence Ending in /e/ and /i/ ...................................................... 24 iv 2.4.2 V1 V2 Vowel Sequences Ending in /u/, /o/ and /a/ .............................................. 24 2.5 The Ilchamus V1V2V3 Vowel Sequences ................................................................... 25 2.6 Summary .................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................... 27 THE ILCHAMUS CONSONANTS ................................................................................. 27 3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Plosives on a Minimal Pair Test ................................................................................. 27 3.2.1 Consonants Distribution ...................................................................................... 28 3.3 Ilchamus Nasals.......................................................................................................... 30 3.4 The Ilchamus Fricatives ............................................................................................. 31 3.5 Affricates .................................................................................................................... 31 3.6 The Ilchamus Liquids ................................................................................................. 33 3.6.1 The Geminate Consonants ................................................................................... 33 3.7 The Ilchamus Glides................................................................................................... 34 3.8 The Ilchamus Velarized Consonants .......................................................................... 34 3.9 Nasalised consonants.................................................................................................. 35 3.10 The Ilchamus consonants cluster.............................................................................. 36 3.11 Summary .................................................................................................................. 39 CHAPTER FOUR .............................................................................................................. 41 PHONOLOGICAL PROCESSES .................................................................................... 41 4.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 41 4.2 The Phonological Processes Involving Vowels ......................................................... 41 4.2.1 Vowel Deletion .................................................................................................... 41 4.2.2 Vowel Assimilation ............................................................................................. 43 4.2.3 Vowel Lengthening ............................................................................................. 44 4.2.4 Vowel Harmony .................................................................................................. 46 4.3 The Phonological Processes Involving Consonants ................................................... 47 4.3.1 Consonant Deletion ............................................................................................. 48 4.3.2 Syllable Deletion ................................................................................................. 48 4.3.3 Glide Formation ................................................................................................... 49 4.3.4 Prenasalization of Stops ....................................................................................... 51 4.3.5 Palatalization ....................................................................................................... 53 4.3.6 Velarization ......................................................................................................... 54 v 4.4 Summary .................................................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 59 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................ 59 5.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 59 5.2 Summary and Findings .............................................................................................. 59 5.3 Relating the Findings to Hypothesis .......................................................................... 61 5.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 61 5.5 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 62 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 63 APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................