Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: Syllable weight 5

Chapter 2: The weight tier 13

Chapter 3: Syllabicity without syllables 19

3.1. Defining syllabicity 19
3.2. G o k a n a vowel length 22
3.3. No syllables in G o k a n a 26

Chapter 4: Syllabic consonants 33

4.1. Syllabic nasals in G o k a n a : 35
4.2. Syllabic onsets in Kpelle 44
4.3. Syllabic liquids in Idoma 49
4.4. Syllabicity and extrasyllabicity 51

Chapter 5: Segments without weight 55

5.1. Underlying weightless consonants 55
5.2. Underlying weightless vowels 58
5.3. Epenthetic consonants 64
5.4. Epenthetic vowels 67
5.5. Generalizations and predictions 71

Chapter 6: Glides 77
6.1. Glides f r o m underlying vowels 78
6.2. Glides f r o m underlying consonants 83

Chapter 7: Recapitulation and discussion 87

Chapter 8: The mapping of autosegments 99

8.1. The mapping of nasality in G o k a n a 99
8.2. The mapping of tone in G o k a n a 106
8.3. The mapping of vowel harmony in G o k a n a 115
VIII Contents

Conclusion 119

Notes 123

References 131