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The Prosodic Effects of Affixation in Philippine
LanguagesCarla Maria Katrina TantiangcoUniversity of the Philippines, Diliman
Michael Wilson RoseroUniversity of the Philippines, Diliman
JC Dawn LimUniversity of the Philippines, Diliman
ABSTRACT
This paper is a study of the prosodic effects of affixation to
the stem it attaches to, an area which has been somewhatignored by previous studies. The paper will not only focus
on the contribution of the affix to the root but also on the
internal change that occurs as it undergoes affixation.Particularly, the paper will describe the movement, or thelack thereof, of stress in this morphological process. Thepaper will also detail the semantic contribution of stress to
the derived word e.g. arl -> arlin and araln. The shift instress plus the suffix [-in] usually suggest the meaning of
prone to while the shift stress accompanying the suffix[-an] usually suggest the meaning a place for What ismore important is the observation that both the affix and
the stress can only trigger a meaning which speakers finduseful to their culture.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 RationaleAside from being phonemic in roots such as ral and arl,stress also marks a difference in meaning in affixed formssuch as arlin `v. to study and araln `n. a thing or subjectto be studied. It is clear that stress is being utilized by
speakers of the language to express a semantic contrast andif this is the case, it is important to understand how.
1.2 Scope: Objectives and LimitationsThe paper will focus on the prosodic effects of affixation as
roots and stems undergo the derivational process. It willidentify the phonological and semantic patterns that
affixation brings.
This paper will be limited to suffixation to establish a basefor further research. An analysis of suffixed forms withtheir prosodic features will be undertaken and theconclusions from this research will be tested through asurvey which will be conducted at a later date.
1.3 Previous StudiesThe two main studies done on this topic is from 1978, byZorc [2], and 1988, by French [1].
Zorc briefly discusses the morphological use of accent inPhilippine languages.
He classified affixes into SAME-ACCENT AFFIX, PENULT-LENGTH-AFFIX, PENULT-SHORTNESS AFFIX and REVERSE
AFFIX (plus zero-accent affix, which is not found inTagalog). He also grouped the words according to the
derived form and not from the root.
French uses the metrical grid theory and concludes that the
stress of the root is separate from the stress of the prefix.
French touches on the subject of (secondary) stress
differentiating kanan from knan. Her paper describesthe phonological whys of the movement but refrains from
discussing semantics.
Note that these studies are only brief sections in the
published literature. There is without a doubt a need toexpand the existing knowledge regarding the roles of stress
in affixation.
1.4 MethodologyAn elicitation list of 200 words was drawn up to produce
data for this research: 100 roots with stressed penultimatesyllable and 100 roots with stressed ultimate syllable.
The suffixes [-an] and [-in] were subsequently added to the
roots. The derived forms were then listed down with the
corresponding movement or non-movement of the accent.The meanings of the resulting words were then analyzed.
A list of possible environments (sentences) was alsoproduced to determine where and how the words are used.
The words and sentences are consulted with other native
speakers.
2.0 Prosodic Effects of Affixation
2.1. Stress in MorphologyBased on the word list produced for this research, a clearpattern was found in roots whose stress fell on thepenultimate syllable (hereafter referred to as P.S.W.) and in
roots whose stress fell on the ultimate syllable (hereafterreferred to as U.S.W.)
If the stress of the root remains in the same position after it
has undergone suffixation (i.e. if the root is a P.S.W.) andthe suffixed form is still a P.S.W.), the resulting word is a
verb:
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1. [a.wit] song1.1 [a.wi.tin] sing (something)
1.2 [a.wi.tan] sing (to someone)
2. [kan.ta] song2.1 [kan.ta.hin] sing (something)2.2. [kan.ta.han] sing (to someone)
On the other hand, if the stress of the root shifts as it
undergoes suffixation (i.e. if the root is a P.S.W. and thesuffixed form is an U.S.W.), the resulting word does not
become a verb and takes on a different meaning
3. [na.kaw] to steal / stolen3.1 [na.ka.wan] steal (from someone)
3.2 [na.ka.win] steal (something)
3.3 [na.ka.wan] robbery
3.4 [na.ka.win] easily stolen
4. [i.nom] to drink4.1 [i.nu.man] drink (from)
4.2 [i.nu.min] drink (something)
4.3 [i.nu.man] drinking party
4.4 [i.nu.min] something to drink (noun)
A broad generalization would be: retention of the stressposition after suffixation results in a verb while a shift instress position after suffixation results in a noun or a
stative.
However, the forms nakawn and inmin have differentmeanings, which make the input of both the affix and stressunclear. In addition to that, the forms awitn and kanthin
are not attested.
2.2 Semantic Change due to StressWhat is clear from the 200 word list is that not every rootcan take both [-an] and [in] and not all resulting forms of
suffixation carry both penultimate and ultimate stress
positions.
2.2.1 About the SuffixesIt is first necessary to determine why some roots can takeboth [-in] and [-an] and why others cannot take one or the
other.
Note the root sampl:
5. [sam.pal] to slap5.1 [sam.pa.lin] to slap (someone) (once)5.2 [sam.pa.lan] (not attested)
The form sampaln is widely accepted. It is easilyunderstood as to slap (someone) (once)
The form sampaln is not attested and not accepted by
speakers as grammatical.
The ungrammaticality can be explained by comparing
sampl with wals and kagt:
6. Walisn mo ang kalat sa sahigSweep the dirt off the floor
7. Walisn mo ang sahigSweep the floor
8. Kagatn mo ang mansanasBite the apple
9. Kagtan mo ang mansanasTake a bite out of the apple
How are these forms related?
Sentences 6 and 8 give a very straightforward command.The action is directed at the dirt (that needs to be swept)and on the apple.
Sentences 7 and 9 express a more locative interpretation.Sentence 7 is asking the addressee to deprive the floor of its
dirt through sweeping. Sentence 9 is asking the addresseeto randomly select a space on the apple from where toimplement the bite.
This is supported further by the following examples:
10. Kagatn mo ditoBite it here
11. ?Kagatn mo ditoTake a bite here
Unlike kagat and walis, words like sampl and suntk
are usually or prototypically directed at something. Thelanguage and its speakers at present do not find it necessaryto assign a meaning to sampaln and suntukn, and
therefore adjudge these forms to be ungrammatical.
To drive home the point, a discussion of the stems halkandykap and their extant derived forms is required:
12. [ha.lik] kiss12.1 [ha.li.kan] to kiss (someone)12.3 [ha.li.kin] *
13. [a.kap] embrace13.1 [ya.ka.pan] *13.2 [ya.ka.pin] to embrace (someone)
The act of kissing, as perceived by the language,necessitates a doer and a victim or beneficiary. The victimor beneficiary is viewed not as a directly affected entity but
as a landmark to which the kiss is planted. Thus, the affixan. In contrast, the act of embracing conceptualizes anembracer and one who gets embraced, a directly affected
entity. No use has been found for yakpan. A kiss can befurther specified while an embrace is always a generalaction (of putting ones arm around someone else).
The root carries with it all the meanings that the language
and its speakers find useful to express. The affixes realizethose meanings.
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2.2.2. Stress PlacementAside from the distinguishing verb and noun forms, stressalso adds its own flavor to the root. Note the root nkaw
(sample [3]) whose resulting forms from the [-in]
suffixation are distinct.
This distinction is not always as clear. Note the root antk:
14. [an.tok] drowsiness14.1 [an.tu.kan] *
14.2 [an.tu.kin] to become drowsy
14.3 [an.tu.kan] *
14.4 [an.tu.kin] a usually drowsy person or
easily given to drowsiness
The root antkcannot take the suffix [-an] but it can takethe suffix [-in] and receive stress in penultimate and
ultimate position.
In this case, stress differentiates the process of becomingdrowsy from the state or property of being (usually)drowsy. Similar with nakawn, antkin describes a quality
inherent to the object or person.
This particular meaning is available for words like sampland suntkbut with amusing effects
15. [sun.tok] punch15.1 [sun.tu.kin] punch (someone) (once)15.2 [sun.tu.kin] always being punched or
easily given to being
punched
Because it can be compared to the form antkin, the
meaning of suntkin can be derived. Someone who issuntkin is someone who is easily punched or, in Filipino-
English,punchable.
This meaning is obviously inferred as with a number of
other examples:
16. [ha.li.kin] ?prone to being kissed17. [hap.lu.sin] ?prone to being caressed18. [ya.ka.pin] ?prone to being hugged19. [ha.wa.kin] ?prone to being touched
However, note the root ral and byad:
20. [a.ral] to study20.1 [a.ra.lin] study (something)
20.2 [a.ra.lin] lesson
21. [ba.yad] to pay / payment21.1 [ba.ya.rin] *21.2 [ba.ya.rin] bills / payables
The words araln and bayarn do not follow the same
pattern as antukn. They are somewhat more similar toinmin (sample [4.4]) and functions only as a noun.
Nonetheless, if the meaning of suntkin can be inferred
from antkin, it should not be a farfetched idea to try andrelate the meaning of the three deviating forms to the othersuffixed forms.
Is it not that araln is something prone to being studied?Bayarn is something that is payable (recall punchable) and
an inmin is something which is drinkable and is prone tobe drank.
The suffixation involving [-an] also present similar curious
cases. Suffixation and shift of stress triggers differentmeanings:
22. [la.ban] fight22.1 [la.ba.nan] to fight (something)22.2 [la.ba.nan] duel / match
23. [hawak] hold23.1 [ha.wa.kan] to hold (something)23.2 [ha.wa.kan] handle (noun)
24. [ku.lay] color24.1 [ku.la.yan] to put color (on something)
24.2 [ku.la.yan] ?a place to dye something
25. [bili] buy25.1 [bi.li.han] market (buying place)
25.2 [bil.han] to buy (something) (fromsomeone)
The most popular interpretation of [-an] plus stress shift isthe meaning similar to samples [23.2] and [25.1].
Note the following examples:
26. [wa.li.san] a place for/to buy brooms27. [ta.hi.an] a place for sewing28. [sa.gi.an] a place for/to buy bananas29. [su.la.tan] a place for writing
The [-an] plus stress-shift results in a locative meaning
for the resulting form.
By looking at labann (sample [22.2]), it can be seen thatthe resulting form does not always carry a locativemeaning. This is similar to nakawn (sample [3.3]) wherein
it functions as a description of an event.
The following samples also show this meaning:
30. [sun.tu.kan] a boxing match31. [sam.pa.lan] an incident of slapping32. [tu.la.kan] an incident of pushing33. [da.ya.an] an incident of cheating
It is evident here that stress serves as a trigger for aninherent property of a word to surface.
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What is lacking in klay is an inherent meaning in the root
to either represent a location or an incident.
A speaker can always infer the meaning of resulting forms
as seen in the following example:
34. [ba.sa] read34.1 [ba.sa.han] read (to someone)34.2 [ba.sa.han] ?a place to read
The inferred meaning of [34.2] would be a place for
reading but this is hardly used by speakers.
The inference is possible because one can always assign a
place for reading. One can also assign a place for coloring
but the reality of the speaker does not require them toassign such places and thus, these forms are not lexicalized.
3.0 Summary
The following statements are found to be supported by thedata list produced for this research:
a. If the position of stress in the root remains afterundergoing suffixation (e.g. P.S.W. to P.S.W.),
the resulting form is a verb
b. The suffix [-in] plus a change in stress positions(e.g. P.S.W. to U.S.W.) results in a noun oradjective-like property whose meaning usuallymeans prone to being x
c. The suffix [-an] plus a change in stress position(e.g. P.S.W. to U.S.W.) results in a noun whose
meaning is usually a place of / for or an
incident of
It is important to keep in mind that the inherent meaningsin the root are the only meanings that can be triggered bysuffixation and changes (or lack thereof) in stress position.
4.0 Further Studies
The focus of this paper has been the prosodic effects ofaffixation and its effects on changing the word class and
meaning of the root or stem.
The conclusions here follow sound logic but a perceptual
experiment in the form of a survey needs to be performed
to check if a significant number of speakers can recognizewhat has been described here.
5.0 References
[1] French, K. 1988. Insights to Tagalog: Reduplication, Infixation, and Stress from Nonlinear Phonology.Arlington: SIL and University of Texas at Arlington.
[2] Zorc, David R. 1978. Proto-Philippine Word Accent:
Innovation or Proto-Hesperonesian Retention? Papers ofthe Second International Conference on Austronesian
Linguistics, Fascicle 1 ed. by S. A. Wurm and LoisCarrington, 67-119. Canberra: Department of Linguistics,Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The
Australian National University.