Consonants Nasals

Based on the narratives of Turner (1949), Klein and Harris (2000) discuss a process of nasal velarization in Gullah by which alveolar nasals [n] become velar [ŋ] following the diphthong [ɒʊ]. When this process occurs word-finally, as in down or around, Klein and Harris (2000: 4) call it assimilation “in the sense that the etymological alveolar nasal assimilates in velarity to the adjacent labio-velar off-glide of the diphthong”. They observe, however, that a process of “dissimilatory blocking” of the velarization process takes place when another velar is found in the word. Thus, words such as gown or ground do not undergo the nasal velarization process. According to Klein and Harris, both processes are categorical in Turner’s narrative data, although some variation is found elsewhere in Turner’s text. Klein and Harris also note variable nasal velarization word-medially in words such as pounding. This process, however, appears to vary regionally. Klein and Harris give no indication of whether this process occurs in modern-day Gullah.

One other process involving nasals appears in the reading passage on the accompanying CD. Here one finds the absence of the nasal in the second syllable of the word attempt, which is pronounced [tεp] by the current speaker. Again, given the limited data, it is not clear, at this stage, whether or not this represents a productive process in Gullah or something unique to the given speaker or given word.