A guide to tones in Tswana locatives

Abstract

The article gives a description of the tones occurring with locatives in Tswana. Assuming a background in the morphology and semantics in locative formation it states the tones of the locative suffix -ng and the locative morphemes gá-, gó-, fá, kwá (kố), and mố, and describes how the suffix and the prefixes influence the tone of their base noun. It also lays out how locatives derived by prefixes influence the tone of a preceding noun, and how preceding words can change the tones of an underived locative. An analysis is provided within an integrated framework  assuming an autosegmental representation of tone and tonal rules referring to prosodic domains as stated in the Prosodic Hierarchy. Open questions in the study of tones in the locative are pointed out.

S.Afr.J.Afr.Lang., 31(2) 2011