THE PHONOLOGICAL STATUS OF THE VELAR FRICATIVE IN FA D’ AMBÔ

Author(s)

Amanda Macedo BALDUINO ^[1] ; Manuele BANDEIRA ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo - Brasil

^[2] Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Alfa, rev. linguíst. (São José Rio Preto); v. 65, 2021-07-09.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, we discuss the phonological status of /x/ in Fa d’Ambô (FA), a Portuguese-based Creole language spoken in Ano Bom Island. Based on the analysis of 270 lexical items (SEGORBE, 2007) and 108 sets of cognates that contrast Fa d’Ambô with the Proto-Creole of the Gulf of Guinea (PGG) (BANDEIRA, 2017), we observed that /x/ could be inserted in Fa d’Ambô as a result of a spirantization process characterized by the lenition of *kPGG into xFA. There is evidence indicating /x/ and /k/ as distinctive phonemes in this language. Considering the phonotactic distribution of /k/ and /x/, we noticed the occurrence of a neutralization process in Fa d’Ambô, in which /k/ is produced as [x] when the stop consonant is preceded by the low vowel [a] in prestressed syllables, as in [pisxaˈdo] ~ [piskaˈdo] ‘fisherman.’ Otherwise, [k] remains as a plosive in stressed syllables, as in [pisˈka] ‘to fish.’ The neutralization of /k/ into [x] corresponds to a synchronous process of Fa d’Ambô. It is characterized by the maintenance of the [dorsal] feature and by the association of the [continuant] feature to the stop (CLEMENTS, 1996). This is the feature responsible for the diachronic speciation of *k into /x/ and for the annulment of the synchronous distinction between /k/ and /x/. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/25332-1 - A comparative study of the nasality in Santomense Portuguese and in Lung'ie and Santomé
• Grantee: Amanda Macedo Balduino
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 17/26595-1 - Phonological processes in the Portuguese varieties of San Thome and San Antonio of Principe
• Grantee: Amanda Macedo Balduino
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate