Kigiryama Phonology

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue I, January 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Kigiryama Phonology

Dr. Elizabeth Jumwa Munyaya
Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya

Abstract: This paper provides an in-depth introduction to the Phonology of Kigiryama language. Phonetics is the study of how the sounds of the world’s languages are produced and perceived. Phonology is the study of how these sounds are categorized, contrasted, and organized into larger structures in each language. In this paper, we will begin with a description of the phonotactics of Kigiryama language and Kigiryama syllable structure. Finally, this paper will analyze the phonological processes involved with both vowels and consonants in the language in question. The aim of the study is to give a phonological description of Kigiryama vowels and consonants with a special reference to the phonological processes that occur in these phonemes. Data will be collected through interview schedules and focus group discussions. Analysis of the data will involve first translating the data into English, then classifying and describing the words into the phonological processes of the vowels and consonants. The findings will show that the processes of glide formation, vowel deletion, vowel insertion and vowel height assimilation occur mainly with vowels while the processes of palatalization, labialization and assibilation occur mainly with consonants. Throughout the paper, we will work with real data from a diverse sample of the Kigiryama language. This information is fundamental to any linguistic study since it forms a foundation upon which various levels of linguistic analysis of Kigiyama is based.

Key Words: Phonotactics, Syllabicity, Labialization, Palatalization, Vowel Height Assimilation, Vowel Deletion And Insertion, Assibilation And Glide Formation.

I. INTRODUCTION

This paper deals with Kigiryama phonological system. We will focus mainly on segmental features; such as the vowels and consonants in the language in question and prosodic elements which include; stress, tone and intonation.
It is important to make a distinction between the two concepts; phonetics is the science that studies sounds; how sounds are produced in general while phonology is the study of the sound system of a particular language. Phonology also includes stress, rhythm and intonation. This paper will therefore be based on phonology rather than phonetics
Phonology is important when teaching or learning a language for the following reasons. Firstly, the problem with vowels is that students need to be able to perceive, distinguish and pronounce correctly a number of vowels that exist, if they don’t their communication skills will suffer especially with regards to listening and speaking because they will confuse such words such as;

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