Seggeynni: Difference between revisions

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(Nasal Consonant Assimilation)
(Debuccalisation of stops, and more nasal assimilations)
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The language documented here is spoken approximately a century after the initial migration. The vast majority of speakers are mixed-race descendents of Kämpya and Thangha' speakers. In addition to Seggeynni, almost all have a passive command of both Thangha' (still a common trade language in the region) and Kämpya (a liturgical language).
The language documented here is spoken approximately a century after the initial migration. The vast majority of speakers are mixed-race descendents of Kämpya and Thangha' speakers. In addition to Seggeynni, almost all have a passive command of both Thangha' (still a common trade language in the region) and Kämpya (a liturgical language).


Like Thangha', there are many consonants which contrast secondary articulations, which affect the quality of adjacent vowesl. Additionally, Seggeynni is characterised by an underlying simple syllable structure at the phonemic level, however many speakers "drop" vowels, so that consonant clusters are heard in the spoekn language. For example, phonemically the name of the language is /ˈséʕkə̀jə̀nə̀jə̀/, but, except when speaking extremely carefully, most speakers pronounce it as [ˈséɠə̀iɲːì].
Like Thangha', there are many consonants which contrast secondary articulations, which affect the quality of adjacent vowesl. Additionally, Seggeynni is characterised by an underlying simple syllable structure at the phonemic level, however many speakers "drop" vowels, so that consonant clusters are heard in the spoekn language. For example, phonemically the name of the language is /ˈséʕkə̀jə̀nə̀jə̀/, but, except when speaking extremely carefully, most speakers pronounce it as [ˈséɠə̀iɲːì].
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===Vowels===
===Vowels===


The vowel system is very similar to Thangha'. In stressed syllables, there are 5 vowel phonemes /iː/, /uː/, /e/, /o/ and /aː/~/a/ (speakers vary as to whether they pronounce it long or short. In unstressed syllables, the language has a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_vowel_system Vertical Vowel System], only contrasting /a/ and /ə/ (however other vowels such as [i] and [u] are heard as allophones of /ə/).
The vowel system is very similar to Thangha'. In stressed syllables, there are 5 vowel phonemes /iː/, /uː/, /e/, /o/ and /aː/~/a/ (speakers vary as to whether they pronounce it long or short). As in Thangha', the length of the vowel is more important than the quality in contrasting /iː/ and /uː/ vs. /e/ and /o/. In unstressed syllables, the language has a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_vowel_system Vertical Vowel System], only contrasting /a/ and /ə/ (however other vowels such as [i] and [u] are heard as allophones of /ə/).




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The situation here is identical to Kämpya. One syllable in each word bears stress. Vowel phonation is phonemic on stressed syllables but not elsewhere. The phonations are harsh /a̰/ [3], breathy /a̤/ or /ä/ [4], and glottalised /aʔ/. Harsh and breathy vowels are both pronounced long, while glottalised vowels are pronounced short, and with glottalisation of the following consonant (or with a glottal stop [ʔ] in the case of word final syllables). For example, the first syllable of "Seggeynni" has stress with glottalised phonation, meaning that the subsequent /k/ is pronounced as an implosive /ɠ/.
The situation here is identical to Kämpya. One syllable in each word bears stress. Vowel phonation is phonemic on stressed syllables but not elsewhere. The phonations are harsh /a̰/ [3], breathy /a̤/ or /ä/ [4], and glottalised /aʔ/. Harsh and breathy vowels are both pronounced long, while glottalised vowels are pronounced short, and with glottalisation of the following consonant (or with a glottal stop [ʔ] in the case of word final syllables). For example, the first syllable of "Seggeynni" has stress with glottalised phonation, meaning that the subsequent /k/ is pronounced as an implosive /ɠ/.
Short vowels with tense phonation are pronounced with an epiglottal approximant [ʢ] after them e.g. /ɲḛ̂/ - "snare" is pronounced [ɲḛ̂ʢ].
The pronunciation of short vowels with breathy phonation varies depending on a variety of factors. At the end of words, they are normally pronounced with a final /ɦ/, or occasionally [z] or [ɹ]. If the vowel precedes an obstruent (stop, affricate or fricative), then a voiceless fricative is inserted, that is homorganic with the obstruent e.g. /fáˈʑè̤tè/ - "forest"  is most often pronounced [fɛ́ˈʑìstə̀]. However this is in free variation with preaspiration, so the word for forest can also be pronounced as [fɛ́ˈʑìʰtə̀]. If the vowel precedes a sonorant, then it is pronounced geminated and with breathy voice e.g. /ˈjè̤mə̀/ - "salt" is usually pronounced [ˈji̤m̤ːə̀].




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There are many phonetic processes that result in the deletion of schwa, often leading to consonant clusters. They apply to unstressed syllables, with two major exceptions. The first of these is word-initial syllables. The second of these is the syllable immediately after a stressed syllable.
There are many phonetic processes that result in the deletion of schwa, often leading to consonant clusters. They apply to unstressed syllables, with two major exceptions. The first of these is word-initial syllables. The second of these is the syllable immediately after a stressed syllable.


====Nasal Consonants===
 
===-Nasal Consonants====


A schwa has a strong tendency to be lost if it occurs immediately after a nasal consonant, and immediately before a stop or affricate. In this case, the nasal changes it's place or articulation to be homorganic with the stop / affricate e.g. /çə̀wàŋə̀ˈpô̰/ - "udder" is usually heard as [ḉʉwɔ́mˈpɔ̰̂ː].
A schwa has a strong tendency to be lost if it occurs immediately after a nasal consonant, and immediately before a stop or affricate. In this case, the nasal changes it's place or articulation to be homorganic with the stop / affricate e.g. /çə̀wàŋə̀ˈpô̰/ - "udder" is usually heard as [ḉʉwɔ́mˈpɔ̰̂ː].


If a schwa comes immediately before a nasal consonant, and immediately after a voiceless stop, then speakers usually delete it, and pronounce the resulting consonant as a glottalised nasal (at the place of articulation of the nasal) e.g. /ˈcḛ̀=pə̀mà/ - "from where" is usually pronounced as [ˈcḛ̀ːʔmà].
 
If a schwa occurs between two nasal consonants, it is elided, along with the preceding consonant. In its place, the following nasal is geminated e.g.
 
 
If a schwa comes immediately before a nasal consonant, and immediately after a voiceless stop, then speakers usually delete it, and pronounce the resulting consonant as a glottalised nasal (at the place of articulation of the nasal) e.g.  
 


If a schwa occurs word finally and is preceded by a nasal, then the whole syllable is often deleted, with nasalisation of the preceding vowel e.g. /zə́ˈwòʔtɕə̀nə̀/ - "rotten" is usually prononuced [zúˈwʉ̀ʔtɕìⁿ].
If a schwa occurs word finally and is preceded by a nasal, then the whole syllable is often deleted, with nasalisation of the preceding vowel e.g. /zə́ˈwòʔtɕə̀nə̀/ - "rotten" is usually prononuced [zúˈwʉ̀ʔtɕìⁿ].


The sequence /nəjə/ is usually pronounced [ɲːi]. Unlike most other assimilation processes, this can occur in the syllable immediately following the stressed one e.g. /ʔáˈɫʷṳ̀ːnə̀=jə̀/ - "everyone's" (alienable) is usually pronounced [ʔɒ́ɫʷṳ̀ːɲːì].
 
The sequence /məjə/ is usually pronounced [mːʲi]. Unlike most other assimilation processes, this can occur in the syllable immediately following the stressed one e.g. /ʔáˈɫʷṳ̀ːmə̀=jə̀/ - "everyone's" (alienable) is usually pronounced [ʔɒ́ɫʷṳ̀ːmːʲì].
 
 
A similar process transforms the sequence /nəjə/ to [ɲːi], as in the name of the language, Seggeynni [ˈséɠə̀iɲːì], underlyingly /ˈséʕkə̀jə̀nə̀jə̀/.
 
 
====Debuccalisation of Stops====
 
If a word final schwa is preceded by a stop, then it is very common to delete the schwa and debuccalise the stop to a glottal stop e.g. /ˈqóʔɲàtə̀/ - "Hkonat" (the name of a city), is usually pronounced as [ˈqɔ́ʔɲɛ̀ʔ].
 
 
If schwa occurs between two stops of identical voicing (sequences of tenuis + schwa + aspirated stop are also permissible), then both schwa and the preceding stop are deleted, and the following consonant becomes geminated e.g. /ˈqòʔɲátə́=ká/ - "from Hkonat" is normally pronounced [ˈqɔ̀ʔɲɛ́kːá].
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