Phonological alterations of alveolar lateral sounds in Mewati: An analysis using Optimality Theory

Dedy Suhery, Mohd Hamid Raza, Zahratul Idami, Shafrida Wati, Cut Intan Meutia, Dessy Kurniasy, Rita Mahriza

Abstract


This study examines the complex phonological shifts within the Mewati language, focusing on the transformation of the alveolar lateral sound between two vowels into an alveolar tap/flap. Using Optimality Theory (OT), our primary goal is to uncover the underlying process responsible for this phonological alteration. Fieldwork, in-depth interviews, and audio recordings were used to acquire extensive data. Together, these three data sources contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the phonological alteration under investigation. In summary, fieldwork provides the context, in-depth interviews offer insights into speakers’ perspectives, and audio recordings supply the raw phonetic data.  The research field was Haryana’s District Mewat, where we engaged a diverse group of fifty informants, including youth, adults, and the elderly. Mewati, a language native to Haryana’s Mewat district exhibits a striking pattern. Our findings revealed that Mewati speakers relinquished the identity of the alveolar lateral sound if it did not occur between two adjacent vowels. These linguistic constraints serve as crucial determinants in evaluating potential output candidates, aligning them with the ranking features of input candidates in the framework of OT. The data collected from the heart of Mewat unequivocally confirms the presence of a phonological alteration process within the linguistic landscape of this region.

Keywords


minimal constraints; Mewati language; alveolar lateral sounds; Optimality Theory

Full Text:

PDF

References


Afrifa-Yamoah, D., Kyei, E., Adubofour, I., & Sarpong, F. (2021). Challenges students encounter in their study of pronunciation in Ghana: A case of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School. East African Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 2(2), 120-126. https://doi.org/10.46606/eajess2021v02i02.0082

Ahmad, A., & Aijaz, I. (2023). The Meos of Mewat: A historical perspective. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4(6), 4007-4014.

Arshad, M. K. (2017). The effects of Urdu Punjabi and English on Mewati lexical items in Pakistan [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Management and Technology Lahore.

Badawi, W. S. (2022). Review of historical phonetic change in terms of optimality theory: Great vowel shift. Journal of Tikrit University for Humanities, 29(4), 1–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.25130/jtuh.29.4.2022.24

Bakshi, P. (2023). Language, religion, and workplace discrimination: Intersectional microaggressions in India. Asian Ethnicity, 25(2), 185-214. https://doi.org/10.1080/14631369.2023.2255542

Ball, M. J. (Ed.). (2015). Theoretical linguistics and disordered language (RLE linguistics B: Grammar). Routledge.

Batais, S. (2019). Optimality-theoretic analysis of syllabic adaptation of English loanwords in standard Kiswahili. International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature, 7(7), 4-9. https://doi.org/10.20431/2347-3134.0707002

Blaikie, N. (2000). Designing social research: The logic of anticipation (1st ed.). Polity Press.

Bybee, J. (2002). Word frequency and context of use in the lexical diffusion of phonetically conditioned sound change. Language Variation and Change, 14(3), 261-290. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954394502143018

Camargo, Z. A., Marchesan, I. Q., Oliveira, L. R., Svicero, M. A. F., Pereira, L. C. K., & Madureira, S. (2013). Lingual frenectomy and alveolar tap production: An acoustic and perceptual study. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, 38(4), 157-166. https://doi.org/10.3109/14015439.2012.671357

Davydova, J. (2024). Micro-sociolinguistic outcomes of language contact in different lects of Indian English. Lingua, 299, 103658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2023.103658

Diani, I., & Azwandi, A. (2021). Phonological change processes of English and Indonesian language. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature, 6(1), 133-148. http://dx.doi.org/10.33369/joall.v6i1.13642

Foulkes, P., & Docherty, G. (2006). The social life of phonetics and phonology. Journal of Phonetics., 34(4), 409-438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wocn.2005.08.002

Franco, X., Bryant, D. M., Gillanders, C., Castro, D. C., Zepeda, M., & Willoughby, M. T. (2019). Examining linguistic interactions of dual language learners using the Language Interaction Snapshot (LISn). Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 48, 50-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2019.02.007

Gautam, A. K. (2022). Language endangerment in India: An overview. Language in India, 22(1), 85-95.

Gussenhoven, C., & Jacobs, H. (1998). Understanding phonology. Routledge.

Hayes, B. (2009). Introductory phonology. Wiley-Blackwell Publication.

Kager, R. (1999). Optimality theory. Cambridge University Press.

Kelly, M. H. (1989). Phonetics and phonology (Vol. 1: Rhythm and meter). Language and Speech, 32(2), 171-178. https://doi.org/10.1177/002383098903200205

Kingston, J. (1992). The phonetics and phonology of perceptually motivated articulatory covariation. Language and Speech, 35(1-2), 99-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/002383099203500209

Lamont, A. (2021). Optimality theory implements complex functions with simple constraints. Phonology, 38(4), 729-740. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952675721000361

Leavy, P. (2022). Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches (2nd ed.). Guilford Publications.

Lee-Kim, S. I., & Chou, Y. C. (2024). Unmerging the sibilant merger via phonetic imitation: Phonetic, phonological, and social factors. Journal of Phonetics, 103, 101298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wocn.2024.101298

Mallikarjun, B. (2019). Metamorphosis of “Hindi” in modern India-A study of census of India. Language in India, 19(8), 397-415.

McCarthy, J. J. (2001). A thematic guide to optimality theory. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511613333

McCarthy, J. J. (2008). Optimality theory in phonology: A reader. John Wiley & Sons.

McMahon, A. M. (2020). An introduction to English phonology (2nd ed.). Edinburgh University Press.

Mohamad, H., Hanafi, H., & Dako, R. T. (2021). A study on phonological process: A case on Indonesian EFL students’ pronunciations. Trans-Kata: Journal of Language, Literature, Culture, and Education, 1(2), 105-114. https://doi.org/10.54923/jllce.v1i2.24

Prince, A. S., & Smolensky, P. (1993). Optimality theory: Constraint interaction in generative grammar. Rutgers University. https://doi.org/10.7282/T34M92MV

Raza, M. H. (2020). The structure of phonological networks and social identity of heritage languages. Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching, 6(2), 89-101. https://doi.org/10.32505/ jl3t.v6i2.1981

Rubab, I., Sadia, S., & Ajmal, M. (2023). A descriptive study of gender inequality in proverbs of Mewati language. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 10(1), 2152946. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2022.2152946

Singh, A., Kadyan, V., Kumar, M., & Bassan, N. (2020). ASRoIL: A comprehensive survey for automatic speech recognition of Indian languages. Artificial Intelligence Review, 53, 3673-3704. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-019-09775-8

Suhery, D. (2023). Minimal contractions of delateralization in Mewati: Evidence from the Optimality Theoretical principles. Paper Presented at TEFLIN-EEIC 2023. Universitas Syiah Kuala.

Suhery, D., Purba, H. S. R., Raza, M. H., & Khairunnisah. (2019). A phonological property of syllable structure and economy in Urdu: An OT account. Asia Proceedings of Social Sciences, 4(3), 80-84. https://doi.org/10.31580/apss.v4i3.805

Suhery, D, Raza, M. H., Purba, H. S. R., & Khairunnisah. (2019). An optimality theory account of English loanwords in Pilibhit Hindi-Urdu (Uttar Pradesh) India. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT), 8(5c), 758-765. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijeat.E1108.0585C19

Utami, N. P. C. P., & Putra, I. P. K. C. (2023). The analysis of phonological process on the English consonant sounds of Balinese EFL students’ pronunciation. E-Structural (English Studies on Translation, Culture, Literature, and Linguistics), 5(2), 148-158. https://doi.org/10.33633/es.v5i02.7452

Wellington, J. (2015). Educational research: Contemporary issues and practical approaches (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury.

Wu, J. (2023). Malayic varieties of Kelantan and Terengganu: Description and linguistic history [Doctoral dissertation, Leiden University]. Scholarly Publications Leiden University. https://hdl.handle.net/1887/3642470

Zen, E. L. (2020). Role of regional language background and speech styles on the production of Voice Onset Time (VOT) in English among Indonesian multilingualism. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10(2), 359-368. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v10i2.28604




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v12i1.34877

Article Metrics

Abstract view : 0 times
PDF - 0 times

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Print ISSN: 2355-2794, Online ISSN: 2461-0275

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


View Journal Stats