Book Chapter

The Disyllabic Word Minimum: Variations on a Theme in Bangla, Punjabi and Tamil

Vijayakrishnan, K G

2007

Overview

In this article we examine the requirement that the minimal word be a disyllabic trochee being satisfied partially or fully in different ways in three unrelated languages spoken in India, namely, Punjabi, Bangla & Tamil. In Bangla, which does not have a phonemic vowel length distinction & where closed syllables count as bimoraic & heavy attracting prominence, monosyllables whether closed or open invariably have a long vowel. We argue that the monosyllabic lengthening is due to a catalectic syllable making these minimal words 'virtual' disyllables. Punjabi has a three-way distinction in syllable weight, a monomoraic light syllable, a bimoraic heavy syllable & a trimoraic superheavy syllable. Following the assumption in the literature, we assume that trimoraic syllables are virtual disyllables. We find that, by & large, monosyllables are trimoraic with a geminate final consonant augmenting the monosyllable to a superheavy status satisfying the disyllabic requirement. Finally, we examine an intriguing pattern of optional, final epenthesis in monosyllables in Tamil, once again arguing for a disyllabic word minimum. Between the three languages, we observe that the disyllabic minimality requirement is met in different ways, exhausting the three logical possibilities of stem augmentation, namely, vowel lengthening (in Bangla), consonant gemination (in Punjabi) & both consonant gemination & vowel epenthesis (in Tamil). References. Adapted from the source document

• Subject: Epenthesis / Indic Languages / Language Comparison / Language Typology / Length / Phonology / Prosodic Units / Prosody / Tamil
• ISBN: 9789027233660, 9027233667