ScholarLens Back to search
2015•Marang Journal of Language and LiteratureOpen access

CONSONANT ASSIMILATION IN ISINDEBELE: A DISTINCTIVE FEATURE APPROACH

Admire Phiri, Progress Dube, Zvinashe Mamvura

Open full text 1 citations

Abstract

The article discusses consonant assimilation on isiNdebele nouns, and examines that within the parameters of the Distinctive Feature approach. The main submission in this study is that consonant assimilation is local, homorganic and that it is found in the construction of class 9 and class 10 nouns. The terminal alveolar nasal consonant [n] of classes 9 (iN-) and 10 (iziN-) merges with the initial consonant of the following noun stems to give a homorganic sound. Consonant assimilation is threefold; place assimilation, manner assimilation and phonation assimilation. The article also established that assimilation is adjacent, partial, bidirectional, and is either progressive or regressive. Key words: manner assimilation, phonation assimilation, place assimilation, trigger sound and target sound

About this research paper

What this paper is about

The article discusses consonant assimilation on isiNdebele nouns, and examines that within the parameters of the Distinctive Feature approach. The main submission in this study is that consonant assimilation is local, homorganic and that it is found in the construction of class 9 and class 10 nouns. The terminal alveolar nasal consonant [n] of classes 9 (iN-) and 10 (iziN-) merges with the initial consonant of the following noun stems to give a homorganic sound. Consonant assimilation is threefold; place assimilation, manner assimilation and phonation assimilation. The article also established that assimilation is adjacent, partial, bidirectional, and is either progressive or regressive. Key words: manner assimilation, phonation assimilation, place assimilation, trigger sound and target sound

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 1 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

The article discusses consonant assimilation on isiNdebele nouns, and examines that within the parameters of the Distinctive Feature approach. The main submission in this study is that consonant assimilation is local, homorganic and that it is found in the construction of class 9 and class 10 nouns. The terminal alveolar nasal consonant [n] of classes 9 (iN-) and 10 (iziN-) merges with the initial consonant of the following noun stems to give a homorganic sound. Consonant assimilation is threefold; place assimilation, manner assimilation and phonation assimilation. The article also established that assimilation is adjacent, partial, bidirectional, and is either progressive or regressive. Key words: manner assimilation, phonation assimilation, place assimilation, trigger sound and target sound

Key concepts: Assimilation (phonology), Consonant, Phonation, Noun, Linguistics, Distinctive feature, Feature (linguistics), Dissimilation

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
CONSONANT ASSIMILATION IN ISINDEBELE: A DISTINCTIVE FEATURE APPROACH — Research Paper | ScholarLens