Term paper

Phonetic and phonology

Topic: Assimilation Rules in Punjabi Language

Roll# 14141702-006
Submitted to: D.r Riaz Mangrio
Submitted by: Sehrish Nawaz
Abstract:
This study investigates the rule of assimilation in Punjabi language. This study examined that
weather of labialization assimilation is most common in Punjabi language or other rules are
common. This study was descriptive in nature and qualitative method used in this research. 525
words of Punjabi language were used as population and then words as sample for data analysis
were selected from this population randomly. After analyzed the data the result that we get
indicate that the nasalization of vowel sound is most common in Punjabi language.

Introduction:
Everyone who knows a language knows the vocabulary of that language. In other words he
knows both the meaning and sound of the linguistic unit. There are some rules which relate the
phonemic representation to the phonetic representation from the parts of the speaker’s
knowledge of his language. These rules are the part of the speaker’s grammar. One type of such
rule is called assimilation rule.

Assimilation is a general term in linguistic, it is a common in phonetics for the process by which
one sound becomes more similar to a nearby sound. It happens to generate a change from one
common sound to another sound for example in Urdu the dental n becomes velar ɳ before a
voiced and voiceless velar stop ( g and k) for example in “angara” word n becomes ɳ and g
sound is deleted and it transcribe as aɳəra. In other word we can say that the n sound can be
assimilated because of the influence of following sound. There are some rules for assimilation
and this paper is here to describe these rules that are present in Punjabi language.

Literature Review:
The term assimilation is as old as human race itself. It has taken many forms and it has been
defined in different ways by different researcher for example,

Roger Lass in 1984 said that the assimilation means the one segment of sound become more
similar to another or the both sounds become similar to each other.
According to McMahon in 2002 that Assimilation occurs in every language and most common
for nasal sounds.

Ofulue e.t al in 2010 defines assimilation as “sounds in the environment of other sounds, across
morpheme and word boundaries tend to undergo various phonological changes referred to as
phonological process.

In 2008 in oxford dictionary some researcher defined assimilation as it makes the one sound
similar to another sound in the same or next word.

Roach in 1998 said that assimilation varies according to the context means according to the
speaking style and it is often occur in casual speech and less occur in careful speech.

More over if k becomes x then it simply spirantization and if it happens between the vowels then
it called assimilation. However this research paper aimed to find the assimilation rules in Punjabi
language.

Types of Assimilation:
According to the Gimson in 2001, there are two main types of Assimilation first progressive and
second Regressive.

Progressive Assimilation:
This type of assimilation can also be known as preservative assimilation. Forel and Puskas in
2005 said that assimilation can be called progressive “when the features of the phoneme are
modified by the features of the phoneme immediately before it.” There are some examples of this
type in English.

Seven Sevem
Open Opem

In this table the word seven show that the sound “n” changes into m because of the v sound that
come before the n sound and like that n sound in open word change into m sound because of the
bilabial stop e. g because of the p sound that come before the “n” sounds. It means n sound is
following sound and it change due to the coming before sound this pattern is called progressive
assimilation.

Regressive Assimilation:
If a sound becomes preceding sound and it change due to the following sound then this process is
called Regressive assimilation. This type of assimilation also called fusional assimilation. It is
not very common in English but it is used in Urdu and Punjabi very commonly. For example

Hankna Hãka
inbasat imbasat
kanpta kampta
Ghonpa Ghompa
Sanp samp
jangle Jaɳl

In this table these word show that the sound of “n” change into another because of the following
sound for example in word “inbasa”t the n change into m sound because of the voiced bilabial
stop b that are following sound like this n into other examples change into another sound because
of the following sound for example n change into ɳ because of the following sound g and k like
in last example jungle, it can be nasalized if its following sound will be k.

Place and Manner of Articulation:

Nasal place assimilation is most common phenomenon in every language. The place of
articulation of nasal sounds depends on the place of articulation of following sounds. M, N and ɳ
are three types of nasal phoneme and these all have subject to this process. It involves taking the
feature of the following segment and making the nasal sound value similar for the two sounds.
For example:
Azmana Azmãna

Asan Asãn

Asman Asmãn
Alan Alãn
Anch ãnch
Ansu ãnsu
This table shows that these are the examples of progressive assimilation because the n sound
becomes nasalized because of the preceding sound means before come sounds. For example the
first word Azmana show that in this word n become nasalized because of the m sound that are
preceding sound like this other example also show that n become nasalized because of the
preceding sounds.

Hankna Hãkna

jang Jaɳ
Rang Raɳ
Ang Aɳ

These examples shows that the changes in n sound just because of the following sound and this
shows the progressive assimilation and it also show the feature of n sound change into the feature
of “ɳ” sound because of the g sound for example in “jang” examples n change into “ɳ” because
of the g sound because g sound have the feature of velar and stop and n sound takes its feature
and change into “ɳ” sound now “ɳ” and its feature is same.

Aims and objective:

The main purpose of this study is to describe the different patterns of assimilation in Punjabi
language. This study will explore the rules of assimilation for Punjabi language. It will also tell
us which rule is mostly used in Punjabi language.

Research questions:
1) How many rules of assimilation are used in Punjabi language?

2) Which assimilation rule is mostly use in Punjabi language?

Methodology:
The research Methodology applied in this research is qualitative because this study is descriptive
in nature. The population of this research is 525 words that were analyzed as data by using
convenience method of data collection. The words are picked up from this population of 525
words in a way which word has more occurrences in the Punjabi dictionary and in the selection
of these words proportional sample technique is used.

Analysis:
After the study of the collected data, different rules are derived. Now we are going to discuss the
rules or pattern of assimilation. There are three rules of assimilation in Punjabi language.

First Rule:

Labialization of Nasal Consonant:

N M

The first rule indicates that the n sound becomes bilabial when it is followed by bilabial stop
consonant. This rule has two patterns first one is that

N M because of the bilabial “b” sound

This pattern tells us that n sound becomes m because of the influence of the b sound. There are
some examples of this pattern in Punjabi language.
 phonemic Phonatic N M Meaning
chənbeli chəmbeli jasmine
bhənbaɽ bhəmbaɽ Flame (shola)
minbar mimbar pulpit
sanbʱal sambʱal upholder
chənba chəmba Gohnsala (house of sparrows)
achənba achəmba Astonish (hiran)
kʊnba kʊmba House (tabbar)
dʊnba dʊmba sheep
anbia ambia prophet
sʊnbal sʊmbal Name of tree
gʊnbəd gʊmbəd Dome
bəhnbiri bəhmbiri butterfly
anba amba foolish (bewaquf)
tənbur təmbur Drummer (Dhool wala)
rənba rəmba trowel (khurpi)
chənbaɽ Chəmbaɽ Cling (lipat jana)

These examples show that n goes through another type of change due to assimilation that is
change in the place of articulation due to the following sounds. These examples show that n
becomes m because of the voiced bilabial stop “b it means n sound articulated at alveolar ridge
but it moves to the bilabial sound because of the following bilabial stop and this type of
assimilation is Regressive assimilation because in these examples n change into m because of the
following sounds. For example in word (bahnbiri, bahmbiri) n change into m because of the
following sound and in this example regressive assimilation is used.

Here we can also apply the optimality Theory on this pattern:

Optimality Theory usually use Constraints it don’t use rules and these constraints is an
expression of conformity of a linguistic entity to a specific pattern. There are some examples of
Punjabi language on which we can apply the Optimality Theory.

{ bʱənbəɽ } Share Place IdentIo

bʱəmbəɽ *
 bʱənbəɽ *!

bʱənbhəɽ **!

Here Optimality Theory shows that there are three candidates that generate by the generator and
there are two constraints, share place and IdentIo. Candidate 2 show the input but it doesn’t share
the place and like that candidate three share the place but it is not identical these two candidate
show crucial violation 2nd show at sharing place and 3 rd show at IdentIo Then we come at 1 st
candidate, here the arrow symbol show that the this is most harmonic candidate: the winner. It
indicates that this form should be the output because it share the place and represents a constraint
violation at IdentIo. So we can say that Optimality Theory tell us that why bʱəmbəɽ is here.

Second pattern of labialization:

N M because of the bilabial stop “p”

The second pattern of labialization tells us that n sound become m because of the bilabial stop
“p” it means that n sound change its place of articulation because of the following sound.
Actually the n sound produce at the place of alveolar ridge but it change its place and moves to
the bilabial place because of the following sound “p”. There are some examples of this pattern in
Punjabi language.

ʧanpat ʧampat Vanish (lok jana)

ʤʱonpɽa ʤʱompɽa Hut
bʱənpna bʱəmpna guess
Sonpna Sompnə give
konpəl kompəl Sprouting leaf
ʧanp ʧamp bone

These examples shows that n changes its place of articulation because of the following sound p
and these examples represent the regressive assimilation mean it change because of the come
after sound for example in word ( chanpat, champat) the n sound change into m sound because of
the influence of m sound. And this pattern show dissimilation in progressive way for example in
Punjabi words like (poni, skimmer and pona, strainer) these words doesn’t show assimilation.
Thus we can say that this pattern have no progressive assimilation.

Here we can also apply OT on this pattern for example

{ʧənpət} Share Place IdentIo

ʧəmpət *
ʧənpət *!
ʧəmpə **!

Optimality Theory tells us that ʧəmpət is a winner candidate and it is output and it show
constraint violation and other candidate show crucial violation so they get out from the contest.

Second Rule:

Velarization of Nasal Consonant:

N ɳ because of the g and k

According to this rule n sound change into engma “ɳ” sound because of the following velar
stop for example g and k. n sound change its place of articulation it means n sound articulated at
alveolar ridge and it change into velar when it’s following sound will be k or g. There are some
examples of this rule in Punjabi language.

Phonemic Phonetic N ɳ
ʊngli ʊɳli
υəng υəɳ
əngɽai əɳɽai
ʧənga ʧəɳa
pənga pəɳa
Məng Məɳ
Ləngʱ ləɳh
 ʧəngær ʧəɳær
ʧənga ʧəɳa
Pi:ng Pi:ɳ
gʊngəʈ gʊɳəʈ
kəng kəɳ
Kəngal kəɳal
gʊnga gʊɳa
ʧəngaɽi ʧəɳaɽi
ʈʱinga ʈʱiɳa
rəng rəɳ
ʤʱəng ʤʱəɳ
bʱəngɽa bʱəɳɽa
bʱəng bʱəɳ
səng səɳ
ɖəng ɖəɳ
ɖinga ɖiɳa
ʤəng ʤəɳ
pəngoɽa pəɳoɽa
ʈəngna ʈəɳna
pəlang pələɳ
ʤonk ʤoɳ
səjonk səjoɳ
ʈərənk ʈərəɳ
ʈənk ʈəɳ
aenk aeɳ
Mong moɳ
dʱranga dʱrəɳa

These examples show that n becomes ɳ because of the k and g sounds. N sound changes its
place of articulation and turn into velar because of the velar sound k and g. These example also
represent the regressive assimilation for example the Punjabi word (Ləng, ləɳg) and (ʧəngær,
ʧəɳgær) show that n change into ɳ sound because of the following g sound that is the voiceless
velar stop and due to the influence of it n changes its place of articulation and turn into velar
sound. Like this n sound also change into ɳ sound because of the voiced velar stop we can see in
the example (ʤonk, ʤoɳk) and ( ʈərənk, ʈərəɳk) these examples show that n change into engma
because of the velar k and then both sound became similar to each other. We can OT on this rule
also.

{ʈʱinga} Share place IdentIo

 ʈʱiɳa *
ʈʱinga *!
ʈiɳga **!

in these example OT tell us that arrow show that the 1st candidate is winner candidate because it
is the output of the written word and it just show constraint violation at identical level and 3 rd
candidate show the share place butt it show the crucial violation at identical level that’s why it
get out from the contest at the end 2 nd candidate don’t show any type of violation at identical
level it is faithful to the input but it show crucial violation at share place it don’t share the place
so it also get out from the contest and remaining candidate is just 1st candidate and it is winner
candidate.

Rule 3:

Nasalization of vowel:

In this rule n sound become nasalized because of the following sound. It mostly nasalized in the
mid of the word in the Punjabi language. There are some examples of this pattern in Punjabi
language.

ʧanbal ʧã:bəl
səțviN Sațvĩ:
ʤʱanba ʤʱã:ba
ʤʱanbəɽ ʤʱã:bəɽ
bʱavan bʱavã
sungʱ sũgʱ
ɖongə ɖõ:gə
gunga gũga
Kang Kã:g
ʧungi ʧũgi
ɖunga ɖũga
aʈʱvin aʈʱvĩ:
t̪ ərhɑn t̪ ərɑ̃:
ʤon ʤõ:
ʧʱaan ʧʱã:
lamaan ləmã:
țʱaan țʱã:
vekʱaan vekʱã:
ʤeeraan ʤirã:

These examples show that n sound becomes nasalized in Punjabi language because of the long
vowel that comes before the “n” sound. In this rule progressive assimilation is used because
vowel is come before the “n” sound and due to this long vowel n sound is deleted and vowel get
nasalization for example in word “gũga” nasalization assimilation is between the word and in
this word long vowel become nasalized and like this “ɖũga” word also nasalized in the mid of
the word and its long vowel show nasalization. Here the word “țʱã:” which show the nasalization
at the end of the word. Thus we can say that in Punjabi language only long vowels become
nasalized when they come before the vowel sound.

OT can also apply at this pattern it can apply like this

{ ʤʱanbəɽ } Nasalization IdentIo

ʤʱã:bəɽ *
ʤʱanbəɽ *!
ʤʱã:bʱəɽ **!

After making the constraints and candidate we can that the second candidate don’t show
nasalization so it out from the contest because nasalization is most important and IdentIo is least
important so it is out at the first stage and remaining candidate are 3 rd candidate and 1st candidate.
They both show the nasalization and they move to the next constraint and at this constraint 3rd
candidate show crucial violation and 1st candidate show the least violation then the 1 st candidate
became the winner candidate and it is output of the written word.

Conclusion:
It is concluded from the above discussion that Punjabi language have three main rules of
assimilation and these rules are labialization of nasal consonant, velarization of nasal consonant
and nasalization of vowel. The rule nasalization of vowel is commonly used in Punjabi language
because in Punjabi we used mostly nasalized words and we can easily get the example of this
rule in Punjabi. Other rules are also used but the some patterns of these rules are not commonly
used in Punjabi language for example in the pattern “n” sound becomes “m” sound because of
the “p” sound. This pattern is not commonly used in Punjabi language.

References:
Jaye Padgett, “The Emergence of Contrastive Palatalization in Russian”, University of
California, Santa Cruz.

John A. Goldsmith, Auto segmental and Metrical Phonology, Basil Blackwell Inc. 1990, ISBN
0-631-13675-4

Bokhari, Sohail 1985. Phonology of Urdu Language. Royal Book Company, Karachi.

Feroz-ul-Lughat Urdu, Feroz Sons Private Ltd, Pakistan.

Roger Lass. 1984. PHONOLOGY An Introduction to Basic Concepts. Cambridge University

Press, USA.

Bukhari, S. (1985). Phonology of Urdu Language. Karachi: Royal Book Company.

Goldsmith, A. (1990). Auto segmental and Metrical Phonology. Basil Blackwell.

Haqqi, S.-u.-H. (1995). Farhang-e-Talaffuz, Muqtadra Qaumi Zubaan. Islamabad.

Lass, R. (1984). PHONOLOGY An introduction to Basic Concepts. USA: Cambridge University

Press.

Padgett, J. The Emergence of Contrastive Palatalization in Russian. Santa Cruz, University of

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