UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA

COLEGE OF LANGUAGES
FACULTY OF GHANAIAN LANGUAGES EDUCATION
END OF FIRST SEMESTER EXAM, 2023

COURSE CODE: GLS 810

COURSE TITLE: PHONOLOGICAL THEORY I
LECTURERS:
DR. KWASI ADOMAKO AND DR. ATIPOKA HELEN ADONGO

TERM PAPER:
QUESTION: USING ONE PHONOLOGICAL THEORY, DESCRIBE/ANALYSE A
PHENOMENON THAT IS OF INTEREST TO YOU FROM ANY GHANAIAN
LANGUAGE

DEADLINE: 30/04/2023

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 OPTIMALITY THEORY(OT)

Optimality Theory (OT) is one phonological theory that will be utilized to examine a

phenomenon in a Ghanaian language. A theory in phonology called OT seeks to explain how

conflicts between opposing constraints lead to language patterns and restrictions.

Vowel harmony in Akan is a fascinating phenomenon that may be examined by utilizing OT in a

Ghanaian language. Ghana and neighbouring countries in West Africa are home to the tonal

language of Akan. Vowel harmony is a phenomenon in which the front, rear, high, and low

vowels of a word tend to have comparable properties or features.

Both horizontal and vertical vowel harmony is used in Akan. Vertical vowel harmony spreads

either [high] or [low] features within a word, whereas horizontal vowel harmony spreads either

[front] or [back] features within a word.

We may examine these vowel harmony patterns, which are the outcome of a constraint ranking

system, using OT. We may, for instance, propose the conditions listed below:

1. Ident(V): Every vowel in a word must be identical in features.

2. Max(Front): The word should have the maximum number of front vowels.

3. Max(Back): The word should have the maximum number of back vowels.

4. Max(High): The word should have the maximum number of high vowels.

5. Max(Low): The word should have the maximum number of low vowels.

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Let's start with horizontal vowel harmony in Akan. In this pattern, the front or back quality of a

vowel spreads to other vowels in the word. For example, in the word "sɛbɛ," the first and second

vowels are both [+front], while the third vowel is [+back]. We can analyze this pattern using OT

by positing two constraints: Ident(V) and Max(Front/Back).

Ident(V) requires that all vowels in a word have identical features, while Max(Front/Back)

requires that a word have the maximum number of front or back vowels, depending on the

specific language and dialect of Akan being analyzed.

In the case of "sɛbɛ," Ident(V) and Max(Front) conflict. Ident(V) would prefer that all the vowels

in the word have the same feature, while Max(Front) would prefer that the word have as many

front vowels as possible. However, in this case, Max(Front) dominates Ident(V), resulting in the

spread of [+front] from the first vowel to the second vowel.

Similarly, in the word "krɔnkrɔn," which means "rope," the first and second vowels are both

[+back], while the third and fourth vowels are both [+front]. In this case, Max(Back) dominates

Ident(V), resulting in the spread of [+back] from the first vowel to the second vowel.

Now, let's turn to vertical vowel harmony in Akan. In this pattern, the high or low quality of a

vowel spreads to other vowels in the word. For example, in the word "baako," which means

"one," both vowels are [+high]. We can analyze this pattern using OT by positing two

constraints: Ident(V) and Max(High/Low).

Ident(V) requires that all vowels in a word have identical features, while Max(High/Low)

requires that a word have the maximum number of high or low vowels, depending on the specific

language and dialect of Akan being analyzed.

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In the case of "baako," Ident(V) and Max(High) are in agreement, as both constraints prefer a

word where all vowels are identical and high. However, in the word "sɔkɔtɔ," which means

"plaster," the first and third vowels are [+low], while the second and fourth vowels are [+high].

In this case, Ident(V) and Max(High) conflict. Ident(V) would prefer that all the vowels in the

word have the same feature, while Max(High) would prefer that the word have as many high

vowels as possible. However, in this case, Ident(V) dominates Max(High), resulting in the word

having two different vowel features.

Overall, the patterns of vowel harmony in Akan can be analyzed using OT by positing different

constraint rankings depending on the specific language and dialect being analyzed. By doing so,

we can better understand how vowel harmony patterns arise in the language and how they

interact with other phonological constraints.

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 References:

Adjei, P. O. (2015). A phonological description of the vowel harmony system in Gonja. Ghana

Journal of Linguistics, 4(1), 71-86.

Bodomo, A. B. (1997). Tense, aspect, and the Akan verb: A functional and discourse grammar

approach. Lincom Europa.

Clements, G. N. (1983). Vowel harmony in non-linear generative phonology: An auto segmental

model. Indiana University Linguistics Club.

Downing, L. J. (2010). The tonal structure of Akan verbs: An optimality theoretic account.

Dolphyne, F. A. (1988). The Akan (Twi-Fante) language: Its sound systems and tonal structure.

Ghana Universities Press.

Goldsmith, J. A. (1990). Autosegmental and metrical phonology. Blackwell.

McCarthy, J. J., & Prince, A. (1993). Prosodic morphology I: Constraint interaction and

Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, 28(3), 497-539.

Ladefoged, P., & Maddieson, I. (1996). The sounds of the world's languages. Blackwell.

Mayo, R. (2015). Asante Twi phonology: An optimality theoretic account. Lingua, 161, 37-55.

satisfaction. Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Science Technical Report 530.

Sande, H. (2003). The representation of vowel harmony in Akan. Nordic Journal of African

Studies, 12(1), 77-94.

Yip, M. (2002). Tone. Cambridge University Press.