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Article published In: Variation in the Pacific: Part II
Edited by Eri Kashima and Miriam Meyerhoff
[Asia-Pacific Language Variation 7:1] 2021
► pp. 1–29

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Variable realisation of verb-final /n/ in Idi

 | University of Canterbury
Published online: 9 June 2021
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/aplv.19011.sch
Abstract
The present study reports on verb-final variable realisation of the alveolar nasal /n/ in the Papuan language Idi. Elision of /n/ is correlated with both linguistic and social factors: present tense, a following consonant, and speakers over 60 show significantly greater rates of /n/ elision. Data from a 1988 grammar sketch indicate that for the present tense, variable realisation of verb-final /n/ is a case of stable, and perhaps age-graded, variation. Conversely, spread of n-less-ness into the other tenses may be a case of a change-in-progress, but at present this cannot clearly be confirmed. The older generation (speakers over 60) consistently show the highest rates of /n/ elision in all tenses. Elderly people are seen as the most proficient Idi speakers, and their position in society perhaps allows them to be more variable in their language use.
Abstract (Dutch)
Dit artikel behandelt variatie in de uitspraak van de medeklinker /n/ in Idi, een Papoeataal die behoort to the Pahoturi River familie. In deze taal wordt de slot-n van een werkwoord vaak niet uitgesproken. Dit blijkt samen te hangen met zowel linguïstische als sociale factoren: /n/ wordt significant vaker weggelaten in de tegenwoordige tijd dan in de verleden en toekomstige tijd, wanneer het volgende woord met een medeklinker begint, en door mensen van boven de 60. Uit data in een niet-gepubliceerde grammatica uit de jaren ’80 blijkt dat deze variatie zo’n 30 jaar geleden al aanwezig was in de tegenwoordige tijd, en dus wellicht stabiele, leeftijdsgebonden variatie betreft. Omgekeerd lijkt het erop dat de verspreiding van het weglaten van de /n/ in de andere werkwoordstijden nog gaande zou kunnen zijn. Hoe dan ook is het de oudere generatie die consequent het vaakst de /n/ weglaat. Oudere mensen worden gezien als de meest competente Idi-sprekers en door deze status genieten ze wellicht meer vrijheid om te variëren in hun taalgebruik. Deze studie laat zien dat het van groot belang is onze blik te verruimen door ons meer te richten op minder bekende talen en culturen, in overeenstemming met eerdere oproepen in de sociolinguïstische literatuur.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The dependent variable: Description
  • 3.Methods
    • 3.1Data collection
    • 3.2The speech community and sample
    • 3.3Coding of tokens
    • 3.4Data analysis
      • 3.4.1Linguistic factors
      • 3.4.2Social factors
  • 4.Results
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1/n/-elision as stylistic variation
    • 5.2Stable variation or a change-in-progress?
    • 5.3A surprising effect of age
    • 5.4Attitudinal factors
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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Schokkin, Dineke
2023. Verbal number in Idi. Studies in Language 47:2 ► pp. 291 ff. DOI logo
Duhamel, Marie-France
2022. The role of older men in a phonological change. Asia-Pacific Language Variation 8:2 ► pp. 206 ff. DOI logo
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