Phonological processes affecting ki-nata vowels

This is the first descriptive study on a hitherto undescribed Bantu language; Nata. It attempts a synchronic description of the phonological processes that affect vowels. The aim of the study is to determine the role played by the phonological processes that affect vowels in maintaining the morpheme and word forms in the language. The theoretical framework that has been used in this study is Generative Phonology; the Standard Model as postulated by Chomsky and Halle (1968} and subsequently revised by others. Chapter one of the study forms the preamble to the whole analysis that follows. It presents general information about the language so as to enable the reader to understand the language that forms the object of this study. Further, it presents the problem, and discusses the methodology that is used in the analysis. The chapter also presents the sources of data used as well as the orthography adopted in the study. Chapter two, firstly, posits phonemes that appear at the underlying level in the language. Cases in which there are different realizations of a phoneme at the phonetic level are pointed out. In each case the phonetic environments that motivate the changes are shown. Secondly the chapter posits a classificatory matrix considered adequate for the description of the phonology of the language. Reasons are advanced to justify why each of the features used is also justified and segmental redundancies formalized into rules in this chapter. Chapter three examines each of the phonological process that affect vowels in the language. Particular attention is paid to the changes that occur and the phonetic environment that motivate the changes. Generalizations are made where there occurs similarities among processes. Further, wherever the structural description is met for the occurrence of more than one rule, the manner in which the rules are ordered is examined. Often the implication this order of rules has on the structure of words or morphemes is stated. Chapter four examines segmental sequential constraints. It states sequential constraint rules by use of if- then morpheme then morpheme structure conditions within the domain of syllables. The sequential constraint rules are examined with the view to stating the morpheme / word structures that the phonological rules considered in the proceeding chapter conspire to preserve. Thus, finally in this chapter the structure of the phonologically possible word in this language is stated. Chapter five concludes the study, firstly by summarizing the phonological rules examined in chapter three to show that they conspire in turning out similar segmental sequences. Secondly, it summarizes the manner in which all the rules examined are ordered; each with the task of producing the desired results in terms of segments sequencing. Corollary to this, the chapter also summarizes the relevance of the word and morpheme boundary which is so important to the processes examined. Thirdly, the chapter hints on issues of interesting theoretical implications on the descriptive power and adequacy of the generative model. Finally the chapter suggests further areas of research as would make the study more complete.