Vowel devocalization in Northern East Cree

Abstract

Derived clusters in Northern East (NE) Cree are traditionally assumed to result from the deletion of an intervening vowel. I propose, rather, that they arise from vowel devocalization, a process involving gradient vowel shortening or weakening. First, I demonstrate the compelling similarity between the process leading to derived clusters in NE Cree and vowel devocalization in non-Algonquian languages. Second, I show that consonants in NE Cree derived clusters display phonetic lengthening, one of the phonetic correlates accompanying vowel devocalization. I suggest that the gestures of these lengthened consonants overlap the vowel to the point that it is not perceived

The development of possession in the L1 acquisition of Northern East Cree

“…This example includes (i) a representation of the target utterance in NEC orthography, (ii) an IPA transcription of the pronunciation of the target utterance, and (iii) an IPA transcription of Ani's actual production. Note that target pronunciations often do not closely match orthographical representations, primarily due to processes of stress/accent shift and vowel syncope (Knee, 2014;Rose et al, 2010). In (18), the word 'pants' is missing all of the obligatory morphology: the third person prefix, possessive suffix, and animate obviative suffix (required for an animate possessee with a third person possessor).…”

Vowel length distinctions in Plains Cree

“…We also avoided instances of syncope, which can result in compensatorily lengthened consonants (cf. [3]). We used a Praat script that reported mean formant values only in the middle 60% portion of vowels, to reduce effects from consonant transitions and anticipatory vocalic assimilation.…”

“…Long/short pairs are notoriously distinct in the vowel spaces of Eastern dialects [2]. In Northern East Cree, for instance, "this distinction is realized as a contrast in vowel quality: historically long vowels have become tense and historically short vowels are lax" [3].…”