Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the phonological process of Nasal Strengthening in Northern Sotho. It sets
out to employ two phonological models to describe the phenomenon in order to determine which
model presents the most credible explanation for the phenomenon. The core elements of a classical
linear model, the so called SPE model of Transformational Generative (TG) phonology is described
and applied to the phenomenon. It is indicated that a number of phonological rules are actually
involved in the process as a whole. It is argued that the following rules are in fact involved in the
generation of appropriate phonetic outputs: a strengthening rule, a homorganic nasal assimilation
rule and a nasal deletion rule. The previously inexplicable /k'/ insertion rule is shown to be nothing
more than part of a more general process of glottal stop strengthening. This is indeed a new view
with respect to the traditional stance on "vowel strengthening." Although the majority of the sound
changes may be accounted for within a TG model, the formalism of the strengthening rule itself
unfortunately does not reflect any phonetic explanation for the phenomenon. A second, non-linear,
phonological model, i.e. a Feature Geometry model (FG) is described and applied to the same
phenomenon. It appears that although the more contemporary FG model presents innovative ideas
on the structure of phonological representations and processes, it can not account for the
strengthening of voiced fricatives at all. At the most this model seems to be able only to account for
voiceless fricatives being strengthened to voiced obstruents. It is clear that none of the models can
present a complete and credible account of Nasal Strengthening in Northern Sotho. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie focus op die proses van Nasaalversterking in Noord Sotho. Twee fonologiese
modelle word gebruik in die analise van die verskynsel ten einde te bepaal welke model die mees
geskik is om 'n geloofwaardige verklaring aan te bied. Die hoofelemente van 'n lineere
Transformasioneel Generatiewe (TG) model word beskryf en toegepas in Noord Sotho. Daar word
aangetoon dat die proses uit 'n verskeidenheid verwante prosesse bestaan en daar word
geargumenteer dat die volgende reels almal 'n rol speel: "n verstekingsreel, 'n homorgane
assimilasiereel en 'n nasaaldelesiereel. 'n Vorige onverklaarbare Ik.'/ invoegingsreel word
geherinterpreteer as 'n glottale stop versterkingsreel wat nuwe verduidelikings bied vir die sg
versterking van vokale. Alhoewel die meeste van die klankwisselinge verantwoord kan word binne
'n TG model, bied die format van die versterkingsreel ongelukkig geen fonetiese motivering vir die
proses aan me. 'n Tweede model, die sg Kenmerkgeometrie (KG), is vervolgens beskryf en
toegepas. Dit het heel gou geblyk dat hierdie model, ten spyte van baie innovasies, nie in staat is
om die versterking van sternhebbende frikatiewe te verantwoord nie. Dit kon slegs 'n sinvolle
beskrywing van die versterking van stemlose frikatiewe moontlik maak. Uit hierdie studie blyk dit
dat nie een van die twee modelle wat aangewend is 'n volledige en geloofwaardige beskrywing van
die verskynsel van Nasaalversterking in Noord Sotho kan aanbied nie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52348 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Maepa, Mafotha Charles |
| Contributors | Roux, J. C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of African Languages. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 65 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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