Stress, Syllabification, and the Articulation of Mid Vowels in Two Dialects of Sasak

Abstract

Chahal (1998) characterizes the distribution of mid vowel allophones in Sasak (Malayo-Sumbawan; Lombok) as dependent on stress, syllables, and harmony: stressed open syllables have higher vowels while those in stressed closed syllables are lower; unstressed vowels harmonize with the following vowel. Ultrasound images for 6 speakers (representing 2 dialects) show tongue positions for mid vowels in words with three prosodic patterns, open-open, open-closed, closed-closed. We found higher vowels in open syllables and when stressed giving 3 heights: the highest vowels are in stressed open syllables and the lowest vowels are in unstressed closed syllables; harmony is irrelevant.