Sumbwa phonology: a generative transformational approach

This study is a preliminary attempt to characterize the phonological component of the Sumbwa language within the framework of transformational generative phonological theory as explicated by such phonologists as Harms (1868), Postal (1968), Chomsky and Halle (1968), Hyman (1975}, and others. The basic tasks of phonology as specified by Postal (1968:155} are: to describe how each sentence is pronounced by relating phonological representations to their phonetic counterparts by means of phonological rules; to specify free variation and contrast; to characterize the notion possible morpheme and to specify the notion phonologically possible ward. This study, being the first one on the language, does not intend to deal exhaustively with all these aspects of phonological description. The study addresses itself to the following questions: the specification of contrast at the systematic phonological level, the characterization of the general phonological processes, and the specification of the phonological sequential constraints which determine the Sumbwa morpheme structure. The study also deals with some aspects of suprasegmental phonology. The study has got the following structure. It starts with an introduction which contains some remarks on the geographical and linguistic position of the language, available literature, and some details on the sources of data and orthography used. Then Chapter 1 deals with the Sumbwa sound system. The basic segments are specified and a distinctive feature classificatory matrix worked out. Chapter 2 characterizes the general phonological processes active in the language and formalizes them into rules. Chapter 3 specifies the phonological sequential constraints, thus capturing the structure of Sumbwa morphemes. Chapter 4 deals sketchily with three suprasegmentall features: tone, stress, and length, And, finally: Chapter 5 concludes the study.