Variation in the Fataluku voiced coronal (j)

This paper represents the first variationist investigation of the voiced coronal phone (j) in Fataluku, a Papuan language of Timor-Leste. Here, we implement the Boruta algorithm at the front end of our analysis pipeline to quantify predictor importance, then use classification trees and mixed-effects regression to disentangle observed effects. Analysis suggests that word position is highly predictive of (j) realization, with glides more likely word-medially and obstruents word-initially. Region is an important predictor word-medially; speakers in Tutuala show nearly categorical [j], indicating strong allophony. Outside of Tutuala, medial tokens vary according to gender and education; among speakers with limited formal education, men show higher rates of glides than women, but speakers with secondary education exhibit higher obstruent rates and no gender differences. Initial tokens, by contrast, are undergoing a change in progress towards affricate realizations. We interpret these findings in the context of locally-specific conceptions of place for Fataluku people in Timor-Leste, particularly that of Tutuala.

Artigu ida ne’e hanesan esforsu investigasaun ba variasaun iha lian koronal (j) iha Fataluku – dalen Papua ida iha Timor-Leste. Iha artigu ida ne’e ami implementa algoritmu naran mak ‘Boruta’ iha inisiu husi faze análiza atu bele sukat importansia husi ‘prediktor estatístika’ – katak ita siik kedas saida mak ema sira sei temi sai bazeia ba liafuan saida mak sira uza – hafoin ami uza ‘estrutura klasifikasaun’ – estrutura katak fahe sasaan tuir sira-nia kategoria – no regresaun efeitu mistura atu bele komprende didiak efeitu sira ne’ebé ami obzerva ona. Ami nia análize sujere katak pozisaun husi lian sira (iha liafuan) influensia tebes bainhira pronunsia (j), iha ne’ebé ‘semivogais’ – lian sira ne’ebé rona ba kabeer – akontese iha liafuan nia klaran, no ‘frikativu’ – lian sira ne’ebé rona ba groseiru – akontese iha liafuan nia oin. Rejiaun influensia tebes ba prediktor sira; hanesan koalia-nain sira iha Tutuala iha variasaun bainhira pronunsia [j], signifika katak iha ‘alofonia’ – pronunsia fonému ho maneira oi-oin. Iha Tutuala nia liur, ‘elementu medial’ – lian sira ne’ebé akontese iha liafuan nia klaran – diferente entre jéneru no nível edukasaun; koalia-nain sira ho nível edukasaun ne’ebé limitadu, mane sira uza semivogais barak liu fali feto sira; sira ne’ebé iha edukasaun sekundáriu, uza liafuan frikativu sira aas liu no ne’e hanesan entre feto ka mane. Elementu inisial, pelu kontrariu, komesa iha mudansa ba utilizasaun frikativu nian. Ami intepreta rezultadu peskiza iha kontestu ema Fataluku sira iha Timor-Leste, liu-liu iha area Tutuala nian.