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Phonological Systems in Philippine Languages

The document summarizes key aspects of phonology in Austronesian languages. It describes common vowel and consonant systems found synchronically across languages, including the reconstructed proto-language system. It also outlines common prosodic features like use of diphthongs and correlation of accent with syllable structure, length, pitch and loudness.

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13 views3 pages

Phonological Systems in Philippine Languages

The document summarizes key aspects of phonology in Austronesian languages. It describes common vowel and consonant systems found synchronically across languages, including the reconstructed proto-language system. It also outlines common prosodic features like use of diphthongs and correlation of accent with syllable structure, length, pitch and loudness.

Uploaded by

api-3732946
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Phonology

Synchronically
• The most common vowels:
– 6 vowel system (i.e., i, e, ə, a, u, o)
– 5 vowel system (i.e., i, e, a, u, o)
– 4 vowel system (i.e., i, ə, a, u) and,
– 3 vowel system (i.e., i, a, u)

Diachronically
• The vowel system which has been reconstructed for
the original parent language (Proto-Austronesian) was
the four-vowel system (i, ə, a, u)
Synchronically
• Phonemic inventories:
– STOPS: p, t, k, q, b, d, g
– NASALS: m, n, ng
– SEMIVOWELS: w, y
*16-consonant system: p, t, k, q, b, d, g, m, n, ng, s h,
l, r, w, y
Diachronically
• The reconstructed consonantal inventory for Proto-
Austronesian:

p t T s k q x
b d D z g h X
m n l Z ŋ Q
w ñ r c N S
y R j W
H
Dempwolff (1935) and Dyen (1971)
• All the Phil. Languages employ the diphthongs:
– aw, ay, and uy
• Some languages use:
– iw, əw, oy, and ey
• In most Phil. Languages, the prosodic features of
length, pitch, and stress are correlated, in terms of
accent.
– an accented open penultimate syllable is usually
longer, louder, and higher in pitch than an accented
closed one
» súlat vs. mínsan
– an accented final closed syllable usually has less
length, lower pitch, and less loudness than an accented
final syllable
» pulá vs. patpát
• In most Phil. Languages, if a word has a closed penult its
accent falls on the ultima
» bukbúk vs. pangpáng

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