Special Issue: Phonetics and Phonology in Bantu

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the interaction of phonetics and phonology cross-linguistically and in particular the investigation of phonology by experimental means. 

The theme of the Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies journal’s special issue – Phonetics and Phonology in Bantu, explores an area of research interest for many decades, with Bantu languages providing the basis of many theoretic developments and advancements.

Phonetics and Phonology in Bantu showcases a specific recent development in phonology contributing to the broader interest on the interaction of phonology with phonetics on the one hand and with experimental techniques (which may or may not involve phonetics) on the other hand. In addition, the coverage in the special issue includes suprasegmentals.

Findings presented in this special issue are hoped to extend the understanding of the interaction of phonetics and phonology based on features that are otherwise not widely attested in the languages that have been the main focus of research. 

The special issue includes research on areas in which Bantu languages are best placed to test particular hypothesis; the interaction of tone and depressor consonants (Lee), tonal variation (Aunio, Ebard and Marlo), and research on contemporary issues where Bantu languages lead to challenges or extensions of current findings/perspectives: phonological awareness (Diemer et al) to name a few.

To read the introduction which provides synopses of the papers included in this special issue click here.

The three papers available to access freely for a limited period (end of December 2015) are listed below and can be accessed by clicking on their respective titles. 

1.    Mental representation of tonal spreading in Bemba: Evidence from elicited production and perception, Kula and Braun.

2.    The development of phonological awareness literacy measures for isiXhosa, Diemer, van der Merwe and de Vos.  

3.    Prosodic stems in Zezuru Shona, Downing and Kadenge.