Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 339-345).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of California, San Diego, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Jan. 12, 2009). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references: P. 42-44.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-230).

No description available.

Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-02

The purpose of this thesis is to establish the part played by tone in the facts and operations of the language. This is achieved by analysing the observed speech-tones. In connected speech several tone-levels are used, but frequently the difference between two of these proves not to be significant. An initial investigation leads to a hypothesis of two essential tones. Prom the behaviour of certain tone-pat terns two distinct kinds of high-tones have to be recognized. The essential tones of basic nominals are discovered by observing their tone-patterns in given contexts. In this way there is established the existence of a single alternance of tone on each lexical syllable, and the absence of any tonal alternance on prefix syllables. Variations occur in the tones of some nominals according to their context, but frequently the tone-patterns are invariable. The tonal behaviour of compound nominals is related to the form as well as to the tones of their components. Where one nominal is based on another there is a close relationship between their tone-patterns. Verbals and nomino-verbals have a tonal behaviour different from that of nominals, but their syllables also display either a single tonal alternance or none at all. Several cases occur where the meaning of a verbal can be determined only when its tones are known. Although tone is not an important factor in indicating syntactical junctions, it often characterizes such Junctions. Interrogative speech is indicated by the use of different intervals between the tone-levels rather than by the use of special tone-patterns. Whether considered lexically, morphologically or syntactically the tones are an integral part of the language which can neither be adequatly analysed her accurately used unless they are taken into account.

This thesis is an examination of the tonology of Xhosa. After an initial survey of the surface tones of the language, and a review of previous studies of Xhosa tone, a description is given of the major tonal patterns of Xhosa noun and verb morphology. In the course of this description the major tonologica1 rules are allowed to emerge. In particular it is shown that some of these rules lead to complex patterns of variation in the pronunciation of the same individual. The derivation of the tone patterns of adjectives and relatives is discussed and it is shown that these tone patterns offer partial support for the derivation of some adjective and relative constructions as derived from embedded sentences but also support for deriving simple attributive adjective constructions by means of phrase structure rules. Some interesting tonal patterns such as that shown by reduplicated stems are then explored. The tones of loan words are then investigated and evidence for the identification of English and Afrikaans stress with high tones by Xhosa speakers is adduced. In the final chapter certain general problems of Xhosa tone are discussed. In particular it is argued that attempts to interpret the tonal system in terms of an accent are unrevealing and also it is suggested that attempts to unify the various rules that spread tones to the right are mistaken. In the appendices a comprehensive survey of the tones of Xhosa inflections is given together with a substantial list of Xhosa words with the tones marked.

This dissertation is a comprehensive description of the structure of the prosody of Singapore English. Using the Prosodic Hierarchy as a framework, each layer of the structure of Singapore English is described in detail. The smallest level described in this dissertation is the syllable, the domain in which the majority of segmental processes occur in Singapore English. The second level is the prosodic word domain, where there is a high tone anchored to the final syllable and a low tone anchored to the left edge, and these tones are shown in this dissertation to be recursive. These tones are independent of stress, which is argued to not exist in Singapore English. The third level is the intonational phrase, where the final syllable carries the boundary tone of the entire intonational phrase, affecting the tones of final particles. There is also a phrase-initial boost on the first prosodic word of the intonational phrase. Markedly absent is any intermediate phrase or domain between the word and intonational phrase, which is argued to not exist in this dissertation. The dissertation ends with a look at the possible origins of the prosody of Singapore English and a consideration of the prosodic systems which may have influenced its development.

No description available.