Kikuyu vowel harmony

Abstract

This article studies the vocalic patterns of distribution and alternation in Kikuyu. The phenomenon of distribution manifests itself in morpheme structure constraints imposed on vowel sequencing within the verbal root, while the effect of alternation is seen within the verbal stem, which displays a productive root-controlled suffixal harmony. Despite some mismatch, the patterns of distribution correspond to patterns of alternation. The article argues for a unified analysis of these patterns based on the assumption that a morphemic [-atr] is assigned underlyingly to some roots. Under this representation, distribution and alternation patterns fall out from one process of [-atr] harmony. The article supports the analysis by showing that it accounts for the deviant properties of harmony such as the disharmonie sequences in Kikuyu.