The composition of the onset may be constrained by the nature of the vowel(s) occupying the nucleus. We saw previously on JamC vowels that vocalic sequences /ui/ and /iu/ do not occur. Put another way, however, phonetic [iu] and [ui] sequences are only possible provided the initial vowel in the sequence occupies a C-slot, i.e. functions as the semi-vowels /w/ and /j/ respectively. These produce the phoneme sequences /wi/ and /ju/. This is demonstrated in the following examples.

There is an uneasy relationship between /j/ and /w/ on one hand and their vocalic equivalents, /i/ and /u/, on the other. The occurrence of semi-vowels in the onset is subject to a constraint which follows from their relationship with vocalic segments. Underlyingly, syllable onsets tend not to consist of a semi-vowel as the sole consonant, followed immediately by the vowel which is its vocalic equivalent. This blocks underlying sequences such as */ji/ and */wu/. Where [ji] and [wu] sequences do occur phonetically, it is in variation with a form without the initial semi-vowel, e.g. [unu] ~ [wunu] ‘you (plural)’, [jimba] ~ [imba] ‘a yam variety’ (Cassidy and Le Page 1980: 225, 457).

In JamC, the onset may have a maximum of two consonants. In such combinations, the first item is always an obstruent and the second an approximant. Combinations with /w/ as the second consonant are /pw, bw, tw, dw, kw, w, sw/. Those involving /j/ include /pj, bj, tj, dj, kj, j, fj, vj, sj, mj, nj/. Of these, /tj/, /dj/ and /sj/ do not have transparent realizations at the surface level. The matching phonetic forms, *[tj], *[dj] and *[sj] are blocked, in spite of a contrary suggestion by Wells (1973: 21). They may be blocked because the underlying phoneme sequences /tj/ /dj/ and /sj/ have their surface phonetic manifestations merged by speakers with those of the affricate and fricative consonant phonemes, /ʧ/ , /ʤ/ and /ʃ/ . Both sets of sequences become realized phonetically as [ʧ] , [ʤ] and [ʃ] respectively. The fact is, however, that the consonants /ʧ/ , /ʤ/ and /ʃ/ also occur in the coda, e.g. /matʃ/ ‘match’, /ʤoʤ/ ‘judge’, /jjaʃ/  ‘cash’. This establishes that [ʧ] , [ʤ] and [ʃ] can and do represent the consonant phonemes /ʧ/ , /ʤ/ and /ʃ/ rather than just underlying /tj/, /dj/ and /sj/. We suggest nevertheless that in the onset, speakers do treat [ʧ] , [ʤ] and [ʃ] as representing a merger at the phonetic level between [ʧ] , [ʤ] and [ʃ] , on one hand, and /tj/, /dj/ and /sj/ on the other.

The only consonants occurring in the JamC onset which are blocked from occurring before /j/ are /l/, /r/, /z/, /ʃ/ , /ʧ/ and /ʤ/. Given the position of /l/ and /r/ in the sonority hierarchy, we may regard them as sonorant consonants which, like /j/ and /w/, only occur in second position in the onset. An onset */zj/ cluster fails to occur because it cannot be phonetically reinterpreted. The expected form, * /Ʒ/, does not exist as a phoneme in JamC. The blocking of */ʃj/ , */tʃj/ * /ʤj/and are, we would suggest, the result of the unacceptability of the alternative /sjj/, /tjj/ and /djj/ underlying representation. These would require a */jj/ sequence. The analysis is presented below.

The apparent occurrence of /dj/ on the surface as in /djam/ ‘damn’ really involves a disyllabic sequence /dijam/, with prominence on the second syllable.

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

مجلة تسليم تدعو الباحثين والأكاديميين للمشاركة في أعدادها القادمة

المجمع العلمي يواصل إقامة محاضراته الأسبوعية في مقام الإمام المهدي (عجل الله فرجه)

جامعة الكفيل تطلق الدورة التدريبية الصيفية لطلبة كلية الهندسة التقنية

استعدادًا لزيارة الأربعين العتبة العباسية المقدسة تعقد الورشة التنسيقية الرابعة الخاصة بمراكز إرشاد التائهين

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

دراسة علمية تكشف مفاجأة حول الأسباب الحقيقية للسمنة

دراسة: الأطباء يتجاهلون "سببا شائعا" لارتفاع ضغط الدم

نظامك الغذائي غني بالبروتين؟.. احذر هذه الآثار الجانبية

لا تتجاهلها.. أعراض تنذرك بأنك مهدد بالإصابة بالسكري

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

ISOFIX: معيار الأمان الذهبي لمقاعد الأطفال في السيارات

هل المحرك الأكبر دائمًا الأفضل للسيارة؟

اختبارات ناجحة لمحرك "VK-800" الروسي وتطويره لطائرة بايكال الخفيفة

رئيس إنفيديا: الذكاء الاصطناعي الصيني "محفز للتقدم العالمي"

المزيد