Onsets : suprasegmental and prosodic behaviour / Nina Topintzi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Topintzi, Nina, author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in linguistics ; 125.

Cambridge studies in linguistics ; 125

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prosodic analysis (Linguistics).

Grammar, Comparative and general--Phonology.

Grammar, Comparative and general.

Syllabication.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 268 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The concept of the 'onset', i.e. the consonant(s) before the vowel of a syllable, is critical within phonology. While phonologists have examined the segmental behaviour of onsets, their prosodic status has instead been largely overlooked. In fact, most previous accounts have stipulated that onsets are insignificant when it comes to the 'heaviness' of syllables. In this book Nina Topintzi presents a new theory of onsets, arguing for their fundamental role in the structure of language both in the underlying and surface representation, unlike previous assumptions. To capture the weight behaviour of onsets, a novel account is proposed that relates their interaction with voicing, tone and stress. Using numerous case-studies and data from a variety of languages and phenomena (including stress, compensatory lengthening, gemination and word minimality), the book introduces a model that reflects the true behaviour of onsets, demonstrating profound implications for syllable and weight theories.

Contents:

1. Onsets and weight: the theory

2. Onsets and stress

3. Onsets and compensatory lengthening

4. Onsets and word minimality

5. Onsets and geminates

6. Other real and not so real onset-sensitive data: brief case-studies

7. Conclusion and discussion of alternatives.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-107-20593-X

1-282-63072-5

9786612630729

0-511-74921-X

0-511-74341-6

0-511-74996-1

0-511-74234-7

0-511-75070-6

0-511-74450-1

OCLC:

638859757