Morphophonological processes in the verb: a case study of the maay dialect of Somali

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to investigate morphophonological processes in the verb of the Maay dialect of Somali. Specifically, the study was aimed at analysing some aspects of phonology and morphology of the Maay dialect that are directly related to the morphophonological processes in the verb. The second objective was to identify the various morphophonological processes that affect the consonants of the Maay dialect and analyse the environment in which they occur. Finally, the study was aimed at identifying the various morphophonological processes that affect the vowels of the Maay dialect and analyse the environment in which they occur. The result of the data analysis concluded that the Maay dialect is characterized by morphophonological processes both in the consonants and the vowels which arise due to the influence of tense, aspect, mood and other vowels and consonants which occur in the immediate environment. Vowel processes which include glide insertion, glide formation, and vowel harmony were found to be as a result of the influence of tense, aspect and mood. The suffixes that mark tense, aspect and mood begin with vowels that influence the vowels in the root. Similarly, consonant processes such as spirantization, velar fronting, and consonant deletion are influenced by tense, aspect and mood. Homorganic nasal assimilation, consonant coalescence and consonant lengthening are as a result of other consonants that occur in the immediate environment. The theory of Natural Generative Phonology was used to analyse the data.