The phonology of reduplication in Hadoti: an optimality theoretic approach

Abstract

Reduplication, despite being a dominant morphological process in several languages worldwide, offers some other important aspects to investigate from different phonological points of view. (Rephrase) This study examines (ask for Tense rule in Abstract) such features in Hadoti, which is spoken in Rajasthan, and using the framework of Optimality Theory. It investigates the types of reduplication processes with special emphasis on onomatopoeic words in Hadoti, the significance of discourse markers in the reduplication process, the role of sonority with and across syllable boundaries, etc. Optimality Theory is an appropriate and effective framework to analyze the phonological problems raised in this research. The study also gives a general description of Hadoti and its slow extinction, as it is a variety of Rajasthani, which is somewhat less explored. A recurring theme among linguists is the need for more languages to be analyzed and more descriptions to be available for a variety of reasons. The main purpose of this thesis is to provide essential information on Hadoti language of the Indian state of Rajasthan, which will assist in future language development work among the Hadoti people. Additionally, it provides additional information for possible future work among related languages. Very little work has been done on the Rajasthani languages as a whole and till date almost nothing on the Hadoti Dialect/language. The Hadoti is a traditional oral society who has yet not expressed a strong desire to see their language developed in print form. Reduplication is a morphological process in linguistics where complete or part of the stem or word is copied. (Might consider rephrasing) In the current study the phonological repletion is not of the word or stem, repletion of the segments or prosodic feature of a language. Several types‟ reduplication processes have been reported in many languages of the world. Namely complete, partial, echo word formation, baby talk, name doubling and onomatopoeic reduplication. These kinds of reduplication process are used for several reasons i.e., express the singularity, plurality, emphasizing on the action and quality of the things etc. Hadoti has majorly 3 kind of reduplication process. One is complete reduplication process where complete or all the segments are copied. It has one sub type of complete reduplication process that is reduplication initiated through discourse marker, /re/ this discourse marker occurs between root verbal reduplication. Second is partial and its types like echo words and ablaut. And third kind of reduplication process is onomatopoeic reduplication, which has complete and partial types in it. Second chapter deals with the prosody feature word primary stress with reference to complete reduplication process in Hadoti. It consists nominal (nouns, adjectives, and adverbs) and verbal (two kinds of verbal reduplication one is root verbal with discourse marker and second is with addition of a suffix /to/ to mark continuity of the action). Third chapter has explained the partial reduplication process with regards the sonority. Based on sonority it was checked that what kind of structures are unmarked in Hadoti reduplication. The last analysis Fourth chapter discussed the onomatopoeic word reduplication with reference the prosodic feature stress and sonority.