This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversio... more This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morph. Akan, like other natural languages, have both overt and covert morphemes. However, previous studies on various aspects of Akan morphology have mostly assumed a structural morpheme-based approach to account for various constituents in complex words. Consequently, morphological zeroes in the form of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero, and empty morphs are yet to receive direct attention beyond passing statements in scholarly works. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the feasibility of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morphs in the context of Akan morphology. Beyond assessing these exceptional morphs in Akan on the parameters of expressiveness, exclusiveness, and contrastiveness as discussed in (cf. Haas 1957, Saporta 1964, Melcuk 2001), the study shows that on a morpheme to morph correspondence relationship, the absent overt morph or morpheme points to a morphological zero. Thus, the study conceptualizes morphological zeroes through portmanteau, conversion, zero, and empty morph in the context of Akan. This account is presented in the framework of constructive morphology.
A presentation at the 2020 Colloquium of African Languages and Linguistics, hosted at Leiden Univ... more A presentation at the 2020 Colloquium of African Languages and Linguistics, hosted at Leiden University.
Ghana Journal of Languages, Linguistics and Literature , 2022
This paper discusses nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan, a Kwa (NigerCongo) language. T... more This paper discusses nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan, a Kwa (NigerCongo) language. The paper demonstrates that nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan can be local, homorganic (partial), or total. The underlying voiced alveolar nasal /n/ surfaces with the initial consonant of the following stem to be realised as a homorganic or nasal sound. The paper shows that among the three major dialects of Akan (Fante, Asante, and Akuapem), Fante exhibits only place (homorganic) assimilation, while Asante and Akuapem demonstrate both places(homorganic) and manner assimilation. Moreover, the paper establishes that nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan is adjacent, partial, complete (total), bidirectional, and either regressive or reciprocal. Nasalisation and nasalassimilation in Akan occur mainly in the domains of stems, compound words, plural formation, negation, imperative, and reduplicative constructions. This paper, therefore, contributes to the typology of consonant-consonant (C-C) assimilations that occur in Akan: nasal place assimilation and consonant nasalisation. We formalise our discussions within the theoretical framework of Feature Geometry (FG) Phonology
This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversio... more This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morph. Akan, like other natural languages, have both overt and covert morphemes. However, previous studies on various aspects of Akan morphology have mostly assumed a structural morpheme-based approach to account for various constituents in complex words. Consequently, morphological zeroes in the form of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero, and empty morphs are yet to receive direct attention beyond passing statements in scholarly works. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the feasibility of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morphs in the context of Akan morphology. Beyond assessing these exceptional morphs in Akan on the parameters of expressiveness, exclusiveness, and contrastiveness as discussed in (cf. Haas 1957, Saporta 1964, Melcuk 2001), the study shows that on a morpheme to morph correspondence relationship, the absent overt morph or morpheme points to a morphological zero. Thus, the study conceptualizes morphological zeroes through portmanteau, conversion, zero, and empty morph in the context of Akan. This account is presented in the framework of constructive morphology.
This paper discusses vowel nasality in Akan, a Kwa language. Nasality in Akan is surface-contrast... more This paper discusses vowel nasality in Akan, a Kwa language. Nasality in Akan is surface-contrastive in vowels and could be phonemic or phonetic. We show that nasal vowels contrast with oral counterparts, and also occur mainly after voiceless consonants in Akan. Moreover, there are disparities between the production and distribution of the oral-nasalnasalized vowels, which are phonologically motivated. The environments of the nasalized vowels in Akan are accounted for.
Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipat... more Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipatory) directionality, very little empirical evidence has been provided for the existence and robustness of progressive ATR vowel harmony in Akan. This paper, therefore, discusses progressive ATR vowel harmony (VH) in Gomoa, a sub-dialect of Fante, one of the major dialects of Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo). The paper attempts to argue that Gomoa unlike the other Akan dialects has progressive ATR vowel harmony. In this study, we show that the +ATR vowel in the root/stem word triggers rightward to harmonize with the-ATR vowel in the suffix or a following vowel in the same domain. Data gathered, show that Gomoa extensively displays progressive vowel harmony in stem words, verbal suffixes, and nominal suffixes, and also shows +ATR dominance vowel harmony. We discuss this occurrence within the framework of Autosegmental phonology (following Goldsmith, 1976) to show the directionality and spreading ATR harmony. This paper, therefore, contributes to the study of the directionalities of vowel harmony in Akan.
Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony, including Berry (1957), Stewart (1967), Schachter & F... more Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony, including Berry (1957), Stewart (1967), Schachter & Fromkin (1968), Dolphyne (1988) have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipatory) directionality. Very little empirical evidence have been provided for the existence and robustness of progressive ATR vowel harmony in Akan. This paper, therefore, discusses progressive ATR vowel harmony in Gomoa, a sub-dialect of Fante, one of the major dialects of Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo). In the previous studies of the Akan vowel harmony phenomenon, it has been established that the [+ATR] in the stem/root word moves leftward to harmonize with the [-ATR] vowel either within a morpheme or across morpheme boundary [VH= (-ATR)prefix + (+ATR]stem = [(+ATR, +ATR)] and cannot spreads to harmonize with the [-ATR] suffix morpheme [VH= (-ATR)prefix + (+ATR]stem + (-ATR)suffix= [(+ATR +ATR-ATR)]. In the present study, we demonstrate that the [+ATR] in the stem/root word triggers rightward to harmonize wit...
Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipat... more Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipatory) directionality, very little empirical evidence has been provided for the existence and robustness of progressive ATR vowel harmony in Akan. This paper, therefore, discusses progressive ATR vowel harmony (VH) in Gomoa, a sub-dialect of Fante, one of the major dialects of Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo). The paper attempts to argue that Gomoa unlike the other Akan dialects has progressive ATR vowel harmony. In this study, we show that the +ATR vowel in the root/stem word triggers rightward to harmonize with the-ATR vowel in the suffix or a following vowel in the same domain. Data gathered, show that Gomoa extensively displays progressive vowel harmony in stem words, verbal suffixes, and nominal suffixes, and also shows +ATR dominance vowel harmony. We discuss this occurrence within the framework of Autosegmental phonology (following Goldsmith, 1976) to show the directionality and spreading ATR harmony. This paper, therefore, contributes to the study of the directionalities of vowel harmony in Akan.
This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversio... more This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morph. Akan, like other natural languages, have both overt and covert morphemes. However, previous studies on various aspects of Akan morphology have mostly assumed a structural morpheme-based approach to account for various constituents in complex words. Consequently, morphological zeroes in the form of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero, and empty morphs are yet to receive direct attention beyond passing statements in scholarly works. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the feasibility of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morphs in the context of Akan morphology. Beyond assessing these exceptional morphs in Akan on the parameters of expressiveness, exclusiveness, and contrastiveness as discussed in (cf. Haas 1957, Saporta 1964, Melcuk 2001), the study shows that on a morpheme to morph correspondence relationship, the absent overt morph or morpheme points to a morphological zero. Thus, the study conceptualizes morphological zeroes through portmanteau, conversion, zero, and empty morph in the context of Akan. This account is presented in the framework of constructive morphology.
A presentation at the 2020 Colloquium of African Languages and Linguistics, hosted at Leiden Univ... more A presentation at the 2020 Colloquium of African Languages and Linguistics, hosted at Leiden University.
Ghana Journal of Languages, Linguistics and Literature , 2022
This paper discusses nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan, a Kwa (NigerCongo) language. T... more This paper discusses nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan, a Kwa (NigerCongo) language. The paper demonstrates that nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan can be local, homorganic (partial), or total. The underlying voiced alveolar nasal /n/ surfaces with the initial consonant of the following stem to be realised as a homorganic or nasal sound. The paper shows that among the three major dialects of Akan (Fante, Asante, and Akuapem), Fante exhibits only place (homorganic) assimilation, while Asante and Akuapem demonstrate both places(homorganic) and manner assimilation. Moreover, the paper establishes that nasalisation and nasal assimilation in Akan is adjacent, partial, complete (total), bidirectional, and either regressive or reciprocal. Nasalisation and nasalassimilation in Akan occur mainly in the domains of stems, compound words, plural formation, negation, imperative, and reduplicative constructions. This paper, therefore, contributes to the typology of consonant-consonant (C-C) assimilations that occur in Akan: nasal place assimilation and consonant nasalisation. We formalise our discussions within the theoretical framework of Feature Geometry (FG) Phonology
This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversio... more This paper examines the morphological zeroes in Akan with respect to portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morph. Akan, like other natural languages, have both overt and covert morphemes. However, previous studies on various aspects of Akan morphology have mostly assumed a structural morpheme-based approach to account for various constituents in complex words. Consequently, morphological zeroes in the form of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero, and empty morphs are yet to receive direct attention beyond passing statements in scholarly works. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the feasibility of portmanteau morph, conversion, zero morphs, and empty morphs in the context of Akan morphology. Beyond assessing these exceptional morphs in Akan on the parameters of expressiveness, exclusiveness, and contrastiveness as discussed in (cf. Haas 1957, Saporta 1964, Melcuk 2001), the study shows that on a morpheme to morph correspondence relationship, the absent overt morph or morpheme points to a morphological zero. Thus, the study conceptualizes morphological zeroes through portmanteau, conversion, zero, and empty morph in the context of Akan. This account is presented in the framework of constructive morphology.
This paper discusses vowel nasality in Akan, a Kwa language. Nasality in Akan is surface-contrast... more This paper discusses vowel nasality in Akan, a Kwa language. Nasality in Akan is surface-contrastive in vowels and could be phonemic or phonetic. We show that nasal vowels contrast with oral counterparts, and also occur mainly after voiceless consonants in Akan. Moreover, there are disparities between the production and distribution of the oral-nasalnasalized vowels, which are phonologically motivated. The environments of the nasalized vowels in Akan are accounted for.
Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipat... more Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipatory) directionality, very little empirical evidence has been provided for the existence and robustness of progressive ATR vowel harmony in Akan. This paper, therefore, discusses progressive ATR vowel harmony (VH) in Gomoa, a sub-dialect of Fante, one of the major dialects of Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo). The paper attempts to argue that Gomoa unlike the other Akan dialects has progressive ATR vowel harmony. In this study, we show that the +ATR vowel in the root/stem word triggers rightward to harmonize with the-ATR vowel in the suffix or a following vowel in the same domain. Data gathered, show that Gomoa extensively displays progressive vowel harmony in stem words, verbal suffixes, and nominal suffixes, and also shows +ATR dominance vowel harmony. We discuss this occurrence within the framework of Autosegmental phonology (following Goldsmith, 1976) to show the directionality and spreading ATR harmony. This paper, therefore, contributes to the study of the directionalities of vowel harmony in Akan.
Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony, including Berry (1957), Stewart (1967), Schachter & F... more Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony, including Berry (1957), Stewart (1967), Schachter & Fromkin (1968), Dolphyne (1988) have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipatory) directionality. Very little empirical evidence have been provided for the existence and robustness of progressive ATR vowel harmony in Akan. This paper, therefore, discusses progressive ATR vowel harmony in Gomoa, a sub-dialect of Fante, one of the major dialects of Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo). In the previous studies of the Akan vowel harmony phenomenon, it has been established that the [+ATR] in the stem/root word moves leftward to harmonize with the [-ATR] vowel either within a morpheme or across morpheme boundary [VH= (-ATR)prefix + (+ATR]stem = [(+ATR, +ATR)] and cannot spreads to harmonize with the [-ATR] suffix morpheme [VH= (-ATR)prefix + (+ATR]stem + (-ATR)suffix= [(+ATR +ATR-ATR)]. In the present study, we demonstrate that the [+ATR] in the stem/root word triggers rightward to harmonize wit...
Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipat... more Previous studies on Akan ATR vowel harmony have centered on the concepts of regressive (anticipatory) directionality, very little empirical evidence has been provided for the existence and robustness of progressive ATR vowel harmony in Akan. This paper, therefore, discusses progressive ATR vowel harmony (VH) in Gomoa, a sub-dialect of Fante, one of the major dialects of Akan (Kwa, Niger-Congo). The paper attempts to argue that Gomoa unlike the other Akan dialects has progressive ATR vowel harmony. In this study, we show that the +ATR vowel in the root/stem word triggers rightward to harmonize with the-ATR vowel in the suffix or a following vowel in the same domain. Data gathered, show that Gomoa extensively displays progressive vowel harmony in stem words, verbal suffixes, and nominal suffixes, and also shows +ATR dominance vowel harmony. We discuss this occurrence within the framework of Autosegmental phonology (following Goldsmith, 1976) to show the directionality and spreading ATR harmony. This paper, therefore, contributes to the study of the directionalities of vowel harmony in Akan.
Uploads
Papers by John Odoom