Segmental Phonemes Conservation in Pattae Language, Indonesia

Abstract

This study focused on conserving the speech sound system of the Pattae language. It employed speaking and listening methods. The result indicates that the vowel sounds are ten, the consonant sounds are eighteen, and the diphthongs are [aw] and [ay]. The classifications of vowel sound characters are six phonemes, they are /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, //, and /o/, and long vowel phonemes are /a:/, /i:/, /u:/, and /o:/. The long vowel phonemes are insufficient supporting data. These vowels can be distributed in a word's initial, middle, and final positions, except /e/, which is not indicated in the initial position. Besides, the classification of consonant sound characters shows eighteen phonemes, including /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /m/, /ñ/, /n/, //, /k/, /g/, /l/, /r/, /s/, /j/, /c/, /?/, /y/, and /w/. Three consonants are distributed in all positions, including n/, //, and /k/; four are distributed in the final, namely /n/, //, /k/, and /?/; twelve are distributed in the initial and middle, such as /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /m/,/ñ/, /k/, /g/, /l/, /r/, /s/, and /w/; and two are distributed in the middle, involving /y/ and /j/.