Tulika Gogoi
Department of Linguistics and Language Technology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, Indiaa
Sekholu Tetseo
Department of Linguistics and Language Technology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India
Amalesh Gope
Department of Linguistics and Language Technology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India
This paper explores f0 downtrend processes in Chokri, a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Nagaland, India. Chokri manifests five lexical tones, comprising four level tones- extra high (EH), high (H), mid (M), low (L), and one contour tone- mid-rising (MR). This study encompasses three distinct downtrend phenomena: temporal declination, final lowering, and automatic downstep. Three complementary methodologies- (a) visual, (b) statistical, and (c) mathematical modeling, are incorporated to examine time-dependent declination across all H, M, and L tone sequences. Visual and statistical analyses show the downtrend nature of these tonal sequences, revealing a linear downtrend in all H and L tone sequences, with M tone displaying a non-linear trajectory. However, while visual observation and statistical modeling do not precisely delineate the appropriate non-linear model, mathematical modeling confirms exponential decay as the fitting non-linear model for M tone sequences. The mathematical modeling further validates that only M tone sequences result in final lowering. Furthermore, an intervening L tone affects the f0 scaling of H tone sequences, confirming an automatic downstep in Chokri. Quantitative analysis revealed the pronounced effect of the intervening L tone on the preceding and following syllables containing an H tone and confirmed the declination process in Chokri.
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Copyright © 2024 Tulika Gogoi, Sekholu Tetseo, Amalesh Gope
This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
