Phonetic aspects of the Lower Cross languages and their implications for sound change
The study of sound change has been an important area of study in Linguistics throughout the modern era of the discipline. The approach taken to its examination, however, has varied considerably over the years, and it is only recently that phonetics has begun to fit seriously again into the equation. In this dissertation, an exploration of certain consonatantal sound changes observed in the Lower Cross languages of South-Eastern Nigeria is presented, taking as basic the assumption that a detailed knowledge of the phonetic characteristics of the languages in question and of general phonetic theory are essential in coming to grips with the phenomena of sound change. In order to achieve the desired aim of the dissertation is has been necessary first to provide an adequate phonetic description, since the Lower Cross languages are for the most part previously undescribed. This is done placing primary, but by no means exclusive, emphasis on Ibibio the largest language of the group. A variety of instrumental investigations (spectrography, aerometry, electropalatography, laryngography), as well as an impressionistic analysis, were conducted into the phonetics of this language, using a number of different speakers.
Connell, Bruce
Phonetic aspects of the Lower Cross languages and their implications for sound change. The study of sound change has been an important area of study in Linguistics throughout the modern era of the discipline. The approach taken to its examination, however, has varied considerably over the years, and it is only recently that phonetics has begun to fit seriously again into the equation. In this dissertation, an exploration of certain consonatantal sound changes observed in the Lower Cross languages of South-Eastern Nigeria is presented, taking as basic the assumption that a detailed knowledge of the phonetic characteristics of the languages in question and of general phonetic theory are essential in coming to grips with the phenomena of sound change. In order to achieve the desired aim of the dissertation is has been necessary first to provide an adequate phonetic description, since the Lower Cross languages are for the most part previously undescribed. This is done placing primary, but by no means exclusive, emphasis on Ibibio the largest language of the group. A variety of instrumental investigations (spectrography, aerometry, electropalatography, laryngography), as well as an impressionistic analysis, were conducted into the phonetics of this language, using a number of different speakers.
phonetic aspect lower cross languages implication sound_change study sound_change important area study linguistics throughout modern_era discipline take examination however vary_considerably year recently phonetics begin fit seriously equation exploration certain sound_change observe lower cross languages south eastern nigeria present take basic_assumption detail knowledge phonetic characteristic languages question general phonetic theory essential come grip phenomena sound_change order_achieve desire aim necessary first provide_adequate phonetic description since lower cross languages part previously undescribed place primary mean exclusive emphasis large language group variety instrumental investigation well impressionistic analysis_conduct phonetics language_use number_different speaker