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4.2 Suggested interpretations
Chao (1934) notes that there are cases where a classical phonemic analysis does
not lead to a unique solution. For example, Ladefoged & Maddieson (p. 357) point out
that for the Australian language Arrernte, analyses have varied as to whether labialization
should be considered a property of the consonant system or the vowel system.
For many African languages, Mono included, both labialization and palatalization
present such a problem of interpretation. In these languages the only unambiguous
syllable pattern is CV (and V in word-initial position), and a classical phonemic analysis
would require that the syllables containing labialization and palatalization, CwV and
CjV, be interpreted in such a way as to fit into the available unambiguous syllable
patterns. Alternatively, an additional syllable pattern (CCV or CVV) could be posited,
but there must be clear motivation for doing so. Bendor-Samuel (1962) outlines the basic
problem:
Are these features to be regarded as consonants or vowels? If they are consonants,
do they form a consonant cluster with the preceding consonant (to give a CCV
pattern), or are they to be analysed as part of a single complex consonant (CV)? If
they are vowels, do they form a sequence of two vowels with the following vowel
(to give a CVV pattern), or form part of a complex vowel nucleus? (p. 86)
All of these possible solutions, as well as two additional ones, have been
suggested for the Banda languages. In this chapter, I evaluate these possible solutions in
light of the Mono data.
The first solution is to posit additional consonant phonemes, corresponding to the
possible consonant-glide combinations: M M, M M , M M, M M , CM CM, CM C C, C C CM CM, CM CM C C, C C DM DM, DM D D, D D , and
. This solution accounts for the limited distribution of the sounds with respect to the
preceding consonants. In addition, no new syllable patterns need to be posited. There are
a couple of disadvantages to this solution, however. First, it requires the addition of
twelve consonant phonemes to the inventory, all of which are poorly attested in my
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