A Phonological and Phonetic Study of Word‐Level Stress in Chickasaw

Abstract

This paper presents results of a phonological and phonetic study of stress in Chickasaw, a Muskogean language spoken in south central Oklahoma. Three degrees of stress are differentiated acoustically, with primary stressed vowels having the highest f0 and greatest duration and intensity, unstressed vowels having the lowest f0 and shortest duration and intensity, and secondary stressed vowels displaying intermediate f0, duration, and intensity values. Vowel quality differences and segmental lenition processes also are diagnostic for stress. The location of stress is phonologically predictable, falling on word-final syllables, heavy (CVC and CVV) syllables and on the second in a sequence of light (CV) syllables. Short vowels in non-final open syllables are made heavy through a process of rhythmic vowel lengthening. Primary stress is sensitive to a further weight distinction, treating CVV as heavier than both CV and CVC. In words lacking a CVV syllable, stress falls on the final syllable.

Sonority-Driven Stress does not Exist

“…Differences in F1 and F2, associated with difference in vowel quality, have also been found (e.g. Gordon 2004, Garellek & White 2012. I will report results from vowel quality and intensity to show that [a] does not attract stress.…”

“…Fry 1955, Liberman 1960, Everett 1998, Gordon 2004, Gordon & Applebaum 2010, Gordon & Nafi 2012, and longer duration (e.g. Fry 1955, Lieberman 1960, Everett 1998, Gordon 2004, Gordon & Applebaum 2010. Differences in F1 and F2, associated with difference in vowel quality, have also been found (e.g.…”

“…Typically, stressed vowels may have a higher pitch (e.g. Lieberman 1960, Gordon 2004, Gordon & Applebaum 2010), greater intensity (e.g. Fry 1955, Liberman 1960, Everett 1998, Gordon 2004, Gordon & Applebaum 2010, Gordon & Nafi 2012, and longer duration (e.g.…”

“…Lieberman 1960, Gordon 2004, Gordon & Applebaum 2010), greater intensity (e.g. Fry 1955, Liberman 1960, Everett 1998, Gordon 2004, Gordon & Applebaum 2010, Gordon & Nafi 2012, and longer duration (e.g. Fry 1955, Lieberman 1960, Everett 1998, Gordon 2004, Gordon & Applebaum 2010.…”

“…It is found that vowels in the penultimate position have a greater intensity than their counterparts in the ultimate position. Cross-linguistically, greater intensity functions as an acoustic correlate of stress in many languages, such as English (Lieberman 1960), Pirahã (Everett 1998), Chickasaw (Gordon 2004), Tashlhiyt Berber (Gordon & Nafi 2012), and so on. Like many other languages, Gujarati also uses intensity as a cue to stress.…”