Tones in Shupamem Reduplication

Author

Magdalena Markowska, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

9-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Linguistics

Advisor

Kyle Gorman

Subject Categories

Linguistics

Keywords

tones, Bantu languages, phonology, morphology

Abstract

This thesis presents an analysis of reduplication in Shupamem, an Eastern Grassfields Bantu language of Cameroon. In this language nouns, verbs, and adjectives undergo full segmental reduplication. At the suprasegmental level, on the other hand, tones of the reduplicants are not entirely faithful to their bases. The tonal asymmetry of the reduplicted phrase also relies on the grammatical function of that phrase within a clause, as well as on the neighboring grammatical words, such as tense particles. This morphological process gives also an insight to an underlying tonal representations in Shupamem. Nominal reduplication, in particular, provides a proof of the necessity of an underspecified underlying tone.

Recommended Citation

Markowska, Magdalena, "Tones in Shupamem Reduplication" (2020). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3986