Affiliation:
1. University of Canterbury
Abstract
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.
Publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Cited by
4 articles.
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