Mobile affixation within a modular approach to the morphology-phonology interface

Huave, a language isolate of Oaxaca State, Mexico, has the phenomenon of mobile affixation, where the same affix may surface as a prefix or as a suffix depending at least partly on phonological context. In light of Paster’s (2009) claim that the modular architecture of grammar precludes phonological and morphological constraints from operating in tandem, I reassess Kim’s (2010) analysis of Huave mobile affixation in which phonological constraints outrank morphological ones. An empirically superior generalization in terms of phonological subcategorization frames is formulated, although the fine line between nonmodular and modular analyses of the same phenomenon serves to highlight the unstable relationship between typology and theory, and emphasizes the need to cast an inclusive net in the cross-linguistic study of phonological influences on affix ordering

Downstep in Tiriki

In this paper, we present an analysis of the tone system of Tiriki, a Bantu language spoken in Kenya and previously undescribed in the linguistic literature. We focus on downstep, a complex phenomenon that arises in a number of different and interesting ways in this language. We claim that tone in Tiriki is best analyzed in a model where downstep is represented phonologically by a floating low (L) tone between two high (H) tones. This constitutes a divergence from many previous analyses of tone in Bantu languages, where there is often no phonological L tone at all, and where downstep is commonly analyzed as the phonetic interpretation of two adjacent H tones. Crucial to our analysis is the observation that downstepped H tones in Tiriki alternate not only with underlyingly specified L tones, but also with default L tones assigned to syllables that are underlyingly toneless. The data provide evidence that insertion of default tones is not, as usually assumed in the literature, universally limited to being an intrinsically late phonological rule or a matter of phonetic implementation. Rather, default tone insertion in Tiriki is a full-fledged phonological process that can and does interact with other phonological processes

El estatus fonológico de ND y NT en el amuzgo de San Pedro Amuzgos

In the Amuzgo variety of San Pedro Amuzgos, previous studies have postulated a marginal phoneme /d/, which appears only after a nasal, giving rise to a contrast between [nd] and [nt] (Smith-Stark & Tapia García 1984: 204; Buck 2000: 365). Here we propose that [nd] is a post-stopped allophone of /n/ before oral vowels, while the allophone [n] appears before nasalized vowels. We account for the distribution of [n], [nd], and [nt] in various phonological contexts, and show that orthographic tendencies point to an affinity between laryngealization, rising diphthongs, and voicing. We confirm with phonetic data that the primary difference between [nd] and the cluster [nt] lies in the duration of the post-nasal occlusion. Finally, we present morphophonological data that support our analysis while also pointing to the existence of a true cluster [nd], distinct from [nd], created from /nt/ by a contextually restricted rule of postnasal voicing

The change of QRS duration after pulmonary valve replacement in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary regurgitation

Purpose This study aimed to analyze changes in QRS duration and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) following pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Methods Children and adolescents who had previously undergone total repair for TOF (n=67; median age, 16 years) who required elective PVR for pulmonary regurgitation and/or right ventricular out tract obstruction were included in this study. The QRS duration and CTR were measured pre- and postoperatively and postoperative changes were evaluated. Results Following PVR, the CTR significantly decreased (pre-PVR 57.2%±6.2%, post-PVR 53.8%±5.5%, P=0.002). The postoperative QRS duration showed a tendency to decrease (pre-PVR 162.7±26.4 msec, post-PVR 156.4±24.4 msec, P=0.124). QRS duration was greater than 180 msec in 6 patients prior to PVR. Of these, 5 patients showed a decrease in QRS duration following PVR; QRS duration was less than 180 msec in 2 patients, and QRS duration remained greater than 180 msec in 3 patients, including 2 patients with diffuse postoperative right ventricular outflow tract hypokinesis. Six patients had coexisting arrhythmias before PVR; 2 patients, atrial tachycardia; 3 patients, premature ventricular contraction; and 1 patient, premature atrial contraction. None of the patients presented with arrhythmia following PVR. Conclusion The CTR and QRS duration reduced following PVR. However, QRS duration may not decrease below 180 msec after PVR, particularly in patients with right ventricular outflow tract hypokinesis. The CTR and ECG may provide additional clinical information on changes in right ventricular volume and/or pressure in these patients