Acoustic evidence of [m] and [n] as syllabic consonants (Ç) in Akan

Abstract

The study which is ethnographic in nature employs qualitative and acoustic analytical approach to examine [m] and [n] as syllabic consonants in Akan. In all, 30 Akan (Akuapem, Asante Twi and Fantse) native speakers were recorded; ten from each dialect area, made up of five males and five females aging between 35 and 56 who were illiterate or could read little Akan. Words such as bam, kɔm, som, ntɛ, nkã, mpa were put in a carrier frame or were produced in isolation. The Asante and Fantse speakers were asked to repeat the words presented in a carrier frame “Ɔse {key word} anaa?” [ɔsɪ…anaa] three times, as Akuapem speakers were asked to repeat “Ose {key words} anaa?” [ose…..anaa]. The carrier frame was given to 18 participants (9 males and 9 females) to repeat three times, whilst 12 participants, comprising 6 males and 6 females were also given the same word list to repeat three times in isolation. The result showed that on Ҫ syllabic structure (where Ҫ is always a nasal consonant), pause duration and intensity measurement identified it to exist at word-initial and not final. In most cases, it is seen as a nasal consonant at word-initial. It constitutes a syllable alone and more importantly contains pitch which makes it sonorous. Again, CVN is one syllable and so the N at the word final cannot be syllabic