Syllable Structure and Related Phonological Processes in Harar Oromo: Moraic Approach
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2011-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis is focused on the syllable structure and syllable related phonological processes of Oromo (Harar dialect) based on moraic approach. Accordingly, it attempts to describe the syllable types which are: CV, CVC, CVV, and CVVC. In view of the moraic theory, the CV and CVC syllables on one hand and the CVV and CVVC syllables on the other are considered light and heavy respectively. In connection with the notion of light and heavy syllables, a mono-moraic syllable is considered light, while bi-moraic and tri-moraic heavy in Oromo (Harar dialect). In these types of syllable, in addition to a vowel (short and long), a consonant after a sonority peak immediately followed by another consonant (in a cluster or gemination) bears a mora.
In Harar Oromo, word-initial and final consonant gemination and cluster are not allowed. In the language, each word has initial consonant in underlying representation. However, in surface representation onset-less words occur due to the deletion of the voiceless glottal plosive sound /Ɂ /. Hence, some words begin with a vowel. Although the initial segment of a surface structure may be a vowel, underlyingly onset (consonant) is obligatory.
In addition to describing syllable structures from the perspective of the moraic theory, the thesis examines syllable related phonological processes in Harar Oromo. Such phonological processes as assimilation, deletion and epenthesis
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syllable structure, and syllable related