More on Pitch, Stress, and Vowel Reduction

Abstract

Based on Welsh, a language which has separated stress (intensity/amplitude) and pitch onto different syllables in polysyllabic words, Griffen (1998) argues that vowel reduction correlates with pitch, not stress. He also notes that aspiration correlates with stress. This note takes issue with both of these points. The Ryukyuan language of Taketomi, a pitch language with no phonemic stress, has historical vowel reduction which does not correlate with pitch. An explanation is proposed for this vowel reduction, and it is suggested that this explanation may also apply in the case of Welsh. In the Ryukyuan language of Nakijin, a pitch accent language with no phonemic stress, aspiration correlates with foot structure, not stress. Indications are that Welsh aspiration may be similarly distributed.