Long vowels in Mongolian

Authors

  • Yumei Sang ARP, UFR Linguistique, Université Paris Diderot, France Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36505/ExLing-2017/08/0025/000327

Keywords:

Mongolian vowel, long vowel, vowel distribution, vowel devoicing

Abstract

This paper investigates one of the fundamental and controversial questions in Halh Mongolian: the phonological status of long vowels (VV), especially VV in noninitial syllables and the distribution of VV. This study questions the traditional analysis of vowel quantity based on the single criterion of the realisation of vowel length, which is purely phonetic. This paper takes into consideration the historical development of VV in Mongolian. It demonstrates that, synchronously, the distinction between long (VV) and short vowels (V) should consider the distinct behaviours that reveal the different nature of these two types of vowels.

References

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Published

01-01-2017

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