CONSONANT ASSIMILATION IN ISINDEBELE: A DISTINCTIVE FEATURE APPROACH

Abstract

The article discusses consonant assimilation on isiNdebele nouns, and examines that within the parameters of the Distinctive Feature approach. The main submission in this study is that consonant assimilation is local, homorganic and that it is found in the construction of class 9 and class 10 nouns. The terminal alveolar nasal consonant [n] of classes 9 (iN-) and 10 (iziN-) merges with the initial consonant of the following noun stems to give a homorganic sound. Consonant assimilation is threefold; place assimilation, manner assimilation and phonation assimilation. The article also established that assimilation is adjacent, partial, bidirectional, and is either progressive or regressive.
Key words: manner assimilation, phonation assimilation, place assimilation, trigger sound and target sound