The Phonology and Phonetics of Word-Initial Geminates

The phonology and phonetics of word-initial geminate consonants are investigated in this dissertation. The phonology portion concentrates on the patterning and distribution of these sounds in Leti, Chuukese, Cypriot Greek, and Luganda. The observed patterning of initial geminates indicates the need for revision of currentlydefended models of prosodic representation. Specifically, it is shown that the diverse patterning of geminates in these languages is best accounted for within a framework that assumes the existence of both concrete phonological timing units and abstract prosodic weight units. Crucially, the model that is developed and defended in this work claims that geminates are inherently linked to two timing slots, and may bear prosodic weight(but are not required to), depending upon language-specific requirements.Complementing the investigation of the abstract behavior of initial geminates is a phonetic investigation of the production and perception of these sounds in Cypriot Greek. The phonetic aspects are of particular interest for one simple reason: these sounds are commonly assumed to be impossible for listeners to distinguish from non-geminate sounds. This is due to the fact that the most salient acoustic feature for geminates,duration, may be indistinguishable when the sound is in word initial position. However, as will be shown, the production of initial geminates in Cypriot allows listeners to correctly discriminate between initial geminates and singletons in environments that are otherwise lacking in phonetic cues.In addition to the phonological and phonetic analyses outlined above, this work also contains a database of typological information, reporting on a diverse set of languages that are claimed to have word-initial geminates.This dissertation represents the first major cross-linguistic study of initial geminates. It is a crucial preliminary step in understanding a significantly understudied class of sounds, thereby providing a more solid empirical basis for the study of language sound systems.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Linguistics

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2001

Author dc:creator

• Muller, Jennifer S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• V. Hume O'Haire, Elizabeth

• Linguistics

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1364226371

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1364226371