Palatalisation of /S/ in Afrikaans

Abstract

This article reports on the investigation of the acoustic characteristics of the Afrikaans voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ 2 . As yet, a palatal [ʃ] for /s/ has been reported only in a limited case, namely where /s/ is followed by palatal /j/, for example in the phrase is jy ("are you"), pronounced as [ə-ʃəi]. This seems to be an instance of regressive coarticulation, resulting in coalescence of basic /s/ and /j/. The present study revealed that, especially in the pronunciation of young, white Afrikaans-speakers, /s/ is also palatalised progressively when preceded by /r/ in the coda cluster /rs/, and, to a lesser extent, also in other contexts where /r/ is involved, for example across syllable and word boundaries. Only a slight presence of palatalisation was detected in the production of /s/ in the speech of the white, older speakers of the present study. This finding might be indicative of a definite change in the Afrikaans consonant system. A post hoc reflection is offered here on the possible presence of /s/-fronting, especially in the speech of the younger females. Such pronunciation could very well be a prestige marker for affluent speakers of Afrikaans.

Afrikaans

“…The palatalisation of the allophonic voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ to a voiceless postalveolar fricative [ʃ] is evident in the pronunciation of especially young speakers (< 40 years), and especially in the coda cluster -rs, as in /bɑrs/ > [bɑrʃ] bars 'burst' (Wissing, Pienaar & Van Niekerk 2015). At the same time, evidence has been found for /s/-fronting in the speech of, in particular, palatalisers, in contexts other than post-/r/, e.g.…”

Die ontwikkeling van [ʃ] in Afrikaans

“…The development of [ʃ] in Afrikaans. This is a follow-up study on a seemingly recent development of the consonant system of Afrikaans that Wissing, Pienaar and Van Niekerk (2015) reported on. They show that the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ is produced as the [ʃ], a voiceless postalveolar or alveopalatal fricative when immediately following the rhotic /r/, but as [s] in contexts other than this.…”

“…[ʃ], 'n frikatief Die bevindings van hierdie ondersoek strook nie net met dié van Wissing et al (2015) nie, maar is ook 'n bevestiging van uitgebreide ouditiewe waarnemings van die uitspraak van hedendaagse Afrikaans oor 'n wye spektrum: 11 in algemene omgangstaal soos gehoor by jong sprekers soos studente en skoolleerders, in inbelprogramme, en soos hierbo reeds genoem is, veral jonger radiopersoonlikhede wat nie net nuusberigte lees nie, maar ook algemene aankondigings maak, weerberigte lees, en verder ook veral jonger predikers in kerkdiensuitsendings.…”

“…Skeefheid word ook soms aangehaal as van waarde by die onderskeiding tussen die stemlose sibilantfrikatiewe [s] en [ʃ](Bekker 2007), maar die presiese karakteristieke aard daarvan wissel sodanig dat dit nie in 'n oorsigstudie soos hierdie nodig of verstandig is om te gebruik nie Jongman et al (2000). wys byvoorbeeld op kontrasterende bevindings ten opsigte van /s/ en /f/ wat hierdie spektrale moment betref, wat ook moontlik na [s] en [ʃ] oorgedra kan word in die geval van Afrikaans Wissing et al (2015). verwys ook na ander meer resente literatuur in hierdie verband.Hierdie studie is dus tot CoG beperk.…”