On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 14:47:30 +0100
Linda Shockey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 3. Japanese has some phonological processes which are sensitive to the
> syllable and some which are sensitive to the mora. Therefore it has both
> phonologically.
I believe that this is the correct position. Syllables and morae are
both used phonologically.
As a rule, Japanese words have a low pitch on the first mora and a high
on the second unless the word accent falls on the first, in which case
the first mora is high and the second is low.
This is true only if the first two morae belong to different syllables,
however. If they belong to the same syllable, this jump-up disappears
or weakens. This means that the syllable is used phonologically. Thus:
L H H* L L
ka$ra$su$mu$gi 'oats'
H H* L L
to-o$mo$ro$ko$shi 'maize'
H H* L L
ko-n$pyu-u$ta-a 'computer'
L H* L
ho-s$so$ri 'slender'
where '$' represents a mora boundary which is also a syllable boundary,
and '-' represents a mora boundary which is not.
The third example shows that it is the mora, not the syllable, that
bears a pitch (ie, the mora is used phonologically.) In the fourth
example, the second mora, being a voiceless consonant, phonetically
could not have any pitch, but we usually feel that it is low pitched.
(The use of L's, H's and stars here should be taken to be informal.)
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MAKINO Takehiko
Associate Professor
EFL Division, Faculty of Economics
Chuo University
742-1 Higashi-Nakano
Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0393
JAPAN
Phone: +81-(0)426-74-3401
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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