Iambic languages are relatively rare and under-described, representing under 10% of the WALS sample and concentrated in the Americas (Goedemans & van der Hulst 2013). I report on work by our research group on Algonquian. We first show that Proto-Algonquian was itself iambic, while numerous daughters have undergone tonogenesis (Biedny et al. 2019). More importantly, many Algonquian languages behave in ways at odds with typological claims about metrical systems. First, for instance, iambic lengthening is claimed to be characteristic of iambic systems, but few Algonquian languages have it, while diametrically opposed processes like iambic shortening and change toward typologically dispreferred foot structures are widespread. Second, iambic systems are associated with duration as a cue to prominence while pitch and intensity are associated with trochaic systems. However, pitch is a common cue to prominence in Algonquian. Algonquian metrical phonology, diachronic and synchronic, can sharpen our typology of iambic languages generally.
Colloquium by Joseph Salmons (Wisconsin): Comparative Algonquian Metrical Phonology
January 31, 2020
3:55PM - 5:15PM
Oxley Hall 103
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2020-01-31 16:55:00
2020-01-31 18:15:00
Colloquium by Joseph Salmons (Wisconsin): Comparative Algonquian Metrical Phonology
Iambic languages are relatively rare and under-described, representing under 10% of the WALS sample and concentrated in the Americas (Goedemans & van der Hulst 2013). I report on work by our research group on Algonquian. We first show that Proto-Algonquian was itself iambic, while numerous daughters have undergone tonogenesis (Biedny et al. 2019). More importantly, many Algonquian languages behave in ways at odds with typological claims about metrical systems. First, for instance, iambic lengthening is claimed to be characteristic of iambic systems, but few Algonquian languages have it, while diametrically opposed processes like iambic shortening and change toward typologically dispreferred foot structures are widespread. Second, iambic systems are associated with duration as a cue to prominence while pitch and intensity are associated with trochaic systems. However, pitch is a common cue to prominence in Algonquian. Algonquian metrical phonology, diachronic and synchronic, can sharpen our typology of iambic languages generally.
Oxley Hall 103
OSU ASC Drupal 8
ascwebservices@osu.edu
America/New_York
public
Date Range
Add to Calendar
2020-01-31 15:55:00
2020-01-31 17:15:00
Colloquium by Joseph Salmons (Wisconsin): Comparative Algonquian Metrical Phonology
Iambic languages are relatively rare and under-described, representing under 10% of the WALS sample and concentrated in the Americas (Goedemans & van der Hulst 2013). I report on work by our research group on Algonquian. We first show that Proto-Algonquian was itself iambic, while numerous daughters have undergone tonogenesis (Biedny et al. 2019). More importantly, many Algonquian languages behave in ways at odds with typological claims about metrical systems. First, for instance, iambic lengthening is claimed to be characteristic of iambic systems, but few Algonquian languages have it, while diametrically opposed processes like iambic shortening and change toward typologically dispreferred foot structures are widespread. Second, iambic systems are associated with duration as a cue to prominence while pitch and intensity are associated with trochaic systems. However, pitch is a common cue to prominence in Algonquian. Algonquian metrical phonology, diachronic and synchronic, can sharpen our typology of iambic languages generally.
Oxley Hall 103
Department of Linguistics
linguistics@osu.edu
America/New_York
public