High Tone Lowering in Ìgbòmina-Yorùbá
Abstract
This article reports that, in Ìgbòmina-Yorùbá, the High tone is lowered to Mid tone when it is preceded by a Low tone and followed by a floating Low tone. It is argued that although the preceding Low tone is the direct trigger of the High-lowering, the Low tone following the High must lose its segmental host for the lowering to be effected. This same lowering is attested in High tones wedged between the future tense marker é “will” and a following floating Low tone. It is then argued that the future tense marker in Ìgbòmina bears a High-Low tonal sequence where the High appears on the surface but the Low tone exists as a floating tone. It is this floating Low tone that triggers the lowering of following High tone once the High tone is itself followed by a floating Low tone.
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