Palatal sonorants in Portuguese-based creoles
Silva, Carlos (University of Porto. Center for Linguistics)
Barcellos Granja, Fábio (University of Porto)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	The adaptation results of sounds across languages is a valuable source of information for their theoretical representation. Such research can be especially enlightening when complex or rare sounds are concerned. This study analyses the adaptation of Portuguese palatal sonorants to 19 Creole languages. We assess the strategies used to replace /ʎ/ or /ɲ/, if the creole has no such consonants; and the constraints on their distribution, if the creole language has a palatal sonorant. The main purpose is to find potential clues to the structure of these consonants in Portuguese, concerning their substance and effects. The data is extracted from the APiCS (Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures) and other doculects. We found that creole speakers either use a phonological equivalent from their substrates [d͡ʒ ɟ] or dismantle the elements of the source consonants into separate features [l n j]. We conclude that the palatal sonorants should not be represented as phonological geminates, but rather as complex segments with a palatal autosegment. Furthermore, the differences in their adaptation suggest that these consonants may not share the same underlying structure.
Note:	Altres ajuts: contract programme FCT UIDB/00022/2020 , Center of Linguistics of the University of Porto; under the scholarship number 301329, Calouste Gulkenkian Foundation.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Portuguese-based creoles ; Palatal sonorants ; Complex segments
Published in:	Isogloss, Vol. 11 Núm. 3 (2025) , p. 1-18 (Articles) , ISSN 2385-4138

Adreça original: https://revistes.uab.cat/isogloss/article/view/v11-n3-silva-granja
Adreça alternativa: https://raco.cat/index.php/isogloss/article/view/v11-n3-silva-granja
DOI: 10.5565/rev/isogloss.444

18 p, 490.2 KB

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