Distribution et fonctionnement tonale en lingála (Bantu, C36d) de Brazzaville

Abstract

The tonal distribution of the two phonological tones (High and Low) in the morphology of Lingala (Bantu, C36d. Congo-Brazzaville) follows the relatively simple association model similar (resembling, which resembles, looks like) to that advocated by Goldsmith (1976) at the very beginning of the autosegmental theory. This one 25 Abréviations : Sgl = singulier, Prés = présent, Pas = passé, Inf = infinitif, loin = lointain, T = ton recommended an association one by one from the left to the right. However, data from lingála tone structures show that some of them, especially those from some reduplications, derive from a tonal OCP manifestation caused by a reduplicated high tone (Hr). They look more ambiguous. One also notes some tonal derivations mainly at the morphological boundary of the nominal prefix and the root after some phonological processes.