The eastern Nilotes: linguistics and historical reconstructions

THE HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION

7.2.2.2.3. Tone

According to Tucker & Bryan (1966:449), tone is relevant
both lexically and grammatically. I have recorded four surface
tones: high, low, mid, and high-falling.

7.2.2.3, Turkana

7.2.2.3.1. Consonants

In his sketch grammar of tu 9 Heine (1980b: 41) gives the fol-
lowing table of consonant phonemes:

bilabial dental alveolar palatal velar

c k
i sr

plosive

p

t

implosive

£>

cf

fricative

s

nasal

m

n

lateral

rolled

glide

w

For comments on pronunciation and morphophonological changes
the reader may be directed to Heine's work.

Consonant sequences
These are extremely rare in Tu, kw being the only cluster oc-
curring in this study.

7.2.2.3.2. Vowels

Heine (1980b:41f. ) distinguishes two sets of five vowel pho-
nemes: [+ATR] i , e , a , o , u

[-ATR] i , e , a , o , u .

[+ATR]-/a/ and [-ATR]-/a/ are, like in re, phonetically identi-
cal but have to be distinguished on morphophonological grounds.
A centralized mid-vowel phoneme /&/ appears to exist in north-
western Tu . All vowels may occur as both short and long vowels.

184

PHONOLOGY

Word-final semi-mute vowels are phonologically distinct in Tu
with regard to grammatical function. For examples of this and
for further notes on Tu vocalism see Heine (loc.cit.).

In the light of comparative Eastern Nilotic, the same loss of
final vowels in some singular nouns mentioned for Km and re is
noted in Tu as seen in section 7.6. under items 'arm/hand', 'ar-
row/bow', 'bull/ox', 'elephant*, and 'moon/month'.

Vowel sequences

The following occur in this study: ia , io , xe , xa , ai , au ,
ax , au , ax , oi , ou , oaa . Across morpheme boundaries xi ,
ex , ££ , and aa may be added.

Vowel harmony

A systematic analysis of the Tu vowel harmony system is still re-
quired, although a few remarks on it may be found in Heine (1980b:
43).

7.2.2.3.3.

Tone

In literature there seems to be agreement as to the signifi-
cance of tone in tu , its function and use, however, being highly
controversial. According to Polley & Jeffrey (1977:36ff., quoted
in Heine 1980b), five tones and four tone levels have to be dis-
tinguished, the former being reduced to three tonemes : high, low,
and extra-low. Heine (1980b:43f . ) , on the other hand, argues that
Tu may be described as having two level tones (high and low) and
one contour tone (high-falling). It has to be noted that lexical
data taken from Heine as presented in sections 7.4. and 7.6. are
marked for tone according to Heine's conventions, i.e., unmarked
vowels have low tone (not mid-tone, as in the other languages) .

Rgdaktion: Rainer Vo0en

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Vossen, Rainer:

The eastern Nilotes: linguist, and histor.
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