Open AccessA re-examination of the 9th vowel phoneme in Igbo
Author(s) -
Ambrose Adikarnkwu Monye
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
studies in african linguistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.178
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2154-428X
pISSN - 0039-3533
DOI - 10.32473/sal.v20i2.107450
Subject(s) - vowel , vowel harmony , igbo , linguistics , mid vowel , relative articulation , unitary state , argument (complex analysis) , vowel length , set (abstract data type) , mathematics , computer science , philosophy , political science , formant , law , programming language , biochemistry , chemistry
In this study the author provides some linguistic evidence to support his argument that I~!is an autonomous vowel phoneme in the Enuani dialect. First, he uses some minimal pairs to show instances where it contrasts with both lei and la/. In addition, he compares the Enuani vowel harmony set with the eastern Igbo set, pointing out that whereas the fonner has 9 vowel phonemes with the vowel phoneme I~I inclusive, the latter has 8 without it. Finally, he uses unitary words to show instances where I~/, lei, and lal either co-occur or do not co-occur in the Enuani dialect. With the above points he conclusively argues that I~!is a vowel phoneme in the Enuani dialect.