2 Vowel Harmony By vowel harmony is meant the regular ‘adjustment’ in the manner of production and in the point of articu- lation of the first vowel in disyllabic simple words of the structures VCV, VCCV, CVCV, CVCCV (all with open [inal syllable) and VCVC, VCCVG, CVEVC, CVCCVC {ail with closed final syllable}, to ‘harmonise’, as it were, with the second vowel in the respective structures. In other words, the manner and point of articulation of one vowel are conditioned by the other vowel in the same structure. For example, in words of the structure VCV, if the first V is ti), the second V may either be another (i) or the vowel [u), in the words fini) or (itu) .In Cini) there in fact is no adjustment necessary as the tongue position for both the ci] 's is the same. In fi), adjust- ment is necessary, not in the height of the tongue, but in the position of the tongue from front to back, In words of the structure CVCV, a similar adjust- ment is necessary. In the following examples, we have tm and (i) harmonise, and (i) and [uj harmonise, foil) + {i} and (i) harmonise fsikul = (4) and (u) hannonise Jn contrast to the above, we have below [uj and [u) harmonise, and {u) and ji) harmonise, {buku} : fuJ and fu) harmonise gull): (u) and (i) harmonise The harmony between vowels is not limited to 1) and {0}, or tu) and U4) alone, but involves all vowels22 The Malay Sound System ee ee eee ee in accordance with certain patterns, so that given the vowel in one position, the speaker can predict the vowel in the other positions. The factors (1) to (6) explained in 1.87 in connection with vowel occurrences apply here in vowel harmony as well. Vowel harmony is in fact another way of explain- ing vowel occurrences, only here attention is focussed specifically on the patterns in which the vowels occur. The general pattern of occurrence is: the first V in the disyllabic simple word may be one of the vowels ,,,u,0,2] While the second Vis limited to (1 >, x7 for the open syllables, and {¢,, 0] for the closed syllables*. Taking the eight structures stated above of the dis- syllabic simple Malay words as the basis of our exercise, we get below sets of possible occurrences of the vowels in syllable initial and syllable final positions; these sets are arranged in such a way that the contrasts between the vowel in the open syllable and the one in the closed syllable may be easily observable, The dash (—) in the paradigms indicates one of two things: either, simply, the absence of examples with the particular vowel combinations in the particular structures; or, possibly, the particular vowel combina- tions are not within the sound system of the language. 1, The first vowel: (11; the second vowel (1, 2.0? for the open syllable, and [r,«, of for the closed syllable, vev weve ied) (jealous: ite?) (duck) Ling} (cracks [ikat) (to tie; bind) {abu} (mosher} Uikot] (to follow) Yoov veeve (inch) (sutting) Linfell (Evangel: the Gospel) i fintan] (diamond) fingu} (inedible coral) Lindo?) (mother; dam (of animals) ‘This will be explained in more detail in 2.2,Vowel Harmony 23 cvey cveve [kiri] (left) [bile?] (room) [kire] (to count: to reckon). [pisan}_ (banana) [biru] (blue) {hidon} (nose) cveev cvecve [einai] (high: tal) {tindeh) (lying on one another) [timba} (pail: bucket) [timbag) (to weigh) {pintu] (door) [timbol] (to emerge) 2. The first vowel: (e1; the second vowel (2,0) for the open syllable, and [¢,2,0} for the closed syllable. vev veve tI {fet} (to tease) [fa] (to spell) [elat] (to pull, haul) (-1 {elot) (good) vocv veeve [-] a fensel] (a hinge) (1 [-1 [elu] (knowledge) (-1 cvev cveve (-1 {eetet] (shallow) [sewo} (Fare, rent) Tsepat] (to kick) (-] Ibelot} (to turn, to swerve) cvecy cvecve {-] {pendet}_ (short) [renda} (lace) {tempan} (lame, to limp) (1 [tembot] (a brick or stone wall) 3. ‘The first vowel: (a1; the second vowel [1, 9, u for the open syllable and (¢, a, 0) for the closed syllable, vev veve (api) (Cire) [adet} (younger brother or sister) apa) (what) [aban] (elder brother) aku) (I;me;my) {agon] (big: great) vecv veeve {abdi) (slave) ambel} (to take) fanko} (number; numeral) {antan} (pestle) {ampu} (support) fanto?] (to knock up against)2 The Malay Sound System 24 eae toocamonnsr ie Maloy Some oo cvev eveve (padi) (rice) {balet) (to return) [dado] (chest: breast) [bawan) (onion) (atu) (stone) [basoh] (to wash) evecv cvecve Iganti} (to replace) fpangel] (to call) {tange] (stairs; steps; ladder) {tampal] (to patch) Thantu} (ghost) [ganton} (to hand up; suspend) 4. The first vowel: (ui; the second vowel [i, 2, u} for the open syllable, and {¢, a, 0] for the closed syllable. eve veve [ubi] (tuber; tuberous root) [upeh] _ (spather; sheath holding blossom of palms) {ud} (nickname (in family terms {ulat) (insect) of reference) funy} (purple) {sol} (proposal) vecv vecve fundi) (vote, to vote) {unket) (to level up) funta} (camel) {umpan} (bait) ambot) (edible pitch, e.g, of coconut palm) cvev cveve {gusi) (gum (in the mouth) {puteh) {bute) (blind) Tkutu) (lice, bugs) funku) (a heredetary title; ‘a prince) (white) (budat] (chita) (buon) (bird) evecv ’ cveeve {sumbi) (a wedge) (sumpet) (sack of matwork; to shoot a blo ) {lumba) (to race) wpipe) {nungu} (to wait) TERPANT (to swear, an oat) (short of space, or time, t00 late) 5. The first vowel: (0); the seco for the open syllable, and era. ay toy ontel U8 81 vay fe syllable. © for the closed my i veve 2 ol {ofa} (to excite a cock to fight) toatl Cy i) foto) (muscle)Vowel Harmony 25 Se vecy vocv [-] [4] {onkel (monkey) fomba?] (wave) t-} fongot] (esp) cvev cveve [roti] (bread) [boleh] (possible, abie) [dosa] (sin) {sora?] (cheer, applause) i-1 [boros] (spendthrift; extravagant) evecy cvecve (-1 [tonken] (the rump) [domba} (a type of sheep) [tombaz} (spear) [-) [sombon} (proud, boastful) 6. The first vowel: [2]; the second Gi, a, u) for the open syllable, and {e, a, 0} for the closed syllable. vev veve (-1 t -] [250] (one;unity of God) [omat] (mother) [-1 (-1 vecv veove {arti} (meaning) fompen] (specially processed rice crisps) (-1 fompat) (four) {-1 Tampot] (tender; soft) cvev eveve [bali] (to buy) [dagel] (stubborn) [bolo] (to rear; to look after) —[pegan]} —_ (to hold) {tabu} (sugarcane) [botol] (right, correct) cvecv evecve {honti] (10 stop) (barseh} (clean) {gonts} (a bell) [tondag] (to kick) {tantu) (certain, sure) {mondon] (gloom, overcast (of sky)) Note: It appears from the examples given above that the members of the groups [ie], (9:4) and [0 :u} (for final and penultimate vowels) are each distributionally complementary to one ‘another within the group; therefore in a phonemic analysis of these vowel sounds, MEBY bers of each group may, with due regard to certain exceptions, Pe considered as allophones of the same phoneme,26 The Malay Sound System ee ‘The examples on pages 22-4 have shown that the occurrence of a vowel in one syllable in a disyllabic word is conditioned to some extent by the next vowel in the same word, or, rather, the vowels anticipate one another and co-occur in a regular fashion. There is, in this, ‘harmony’ between the vowels which co-occur' . A. The rules of co-occurrence of vowels in disyllabic simple words with final open syllables may be summar- ised as follows: 1. There is regular co-occurrence between two close front vowels, {i:i] , between two close back vowels, tu:u) , and between two central vowels, fii] [gigi] (teeth) [w:u} [buku} (book) foo) [kere] (monkey) 2. There is also regular co-occurrence between the two close front and back vowels fi} and tut, and vice-versa, in open final position fizu) — [biru) (blue) fu:i) — (buni} (sound) 3. Two vowels (i) and (0}, the former a close front and the latter a central vowel, co-occur regularly in that order and in reverse order. Similarly, the close back vowel {uj and the central vowel {2} regularly co-occur in that order and in reverse order. Uis0) hile) (when) {ori} [bali] (to buy) {u:9} (kuds} (horse) {9:0} [tebu} (sugarcane) ‘The term ‘harmony’, vowel harmony, has other implications and is used also in referring to other aspects of vowel occurrences. In this book, it specifically refers to the patterned co-occurrence of the vowels within the disyllabic simple Malay words,Vowel Harmony 27 4, In the following co-occurrences, also in open final position, no reverse order of occurrence is possible (except as variants of some other sounds, see 5 below). (i) the half-close front and central vowels {¢:01: Te: 2} [bela] (to avenge) (i) the open front vowel {a}, in the initial syllable, and the close front vowel 11, or the close back (u}, or the central vowel [2] in the final syllable: {a:i] kaki] (leg, foot) fa:u] (paku) (nail) {a:e] [lads] (chilli, pepper) (i) the half-close back and central vowels [0 : 21 fo:3] [dosa} (sin) 5. The following are co-occurrences in open final position, which may be termed variants of other vowel combinations, or even of other sound combinations, e.g. (i: a) used as a variant of (i: art. + [bibe] var. of [biber] (lip) Lire] var.of isa] var of {tikayvar.of | [tkar] (mat) var. of [bila] var. of [bila] (when) var. of {ido} var. of {tidor} (to sleep) var. of These} var. of {beser] (incontinence of urine) (leba] var.of {lebar] (wide) {telo] var. of {telor] (dialectal pronunciation) [esa] var.of [ez 0} var.of var of, {tabe) var. of ftaber] (curtain) var. of {baka} var.of (bakar} (to bun) var of ada) -var.of {lado} (chilli, pepper) fura) var. of Ituka) var. of {(tukar] (to change) var. of [buka} var. of (buko] (to open) (u:0) var, of (bubo} var. of [bubor} (porridge, sweetmeat) froda) var, of [roda}_ (wheel) [koto] varof (kotor) (dirty) Toate} var. of (gater] (sour, bit (basa) var. of [basar] (big) [telo] var. of [talor) (egg) var, of var. of ) varof a) var. of 0) var. of ter) 6. The following are co-occurrences between two. vowels in certain words due to the peculiarities of the words themselves.28 The Malay Sound System Ba a (rarely {(bise) ) (possible) esa} in [seja] (never [5895] ) {a bamboo or cane basket) (rickshaw, trishaw) (heka} (never [be8o} ) ities) (cheese) fe:u) in (keJu) (no other possibi [a:a] in [baba]. (never (babo} ) @ eae Chinese (awa) (never (awe ) (handsome, attractive) {tanpa) (rarely [tanpo) ) (without) [0:8] in {roti} (sometimes [ruti}) _ (bread) [dobi] (sometimes (dubi) )_(dhobi, laundry) {todi) (no other possibilities) (toddy, palm-wine = [mwat} ) [tot] (no other possibilities) _(self-employed female hospital attendant) fosa} in (nona] (no other possiblities) (a straits born Chinese ‘woman) [bola} (no other possibilities) (ball, football) 7. The following extractions from the above possibi- lities are worth noting. These show that all the six different vowels in initial position may co-occur with the central vowel {0} in final open position; the 3} here is spelt with the letter ‘a’ in the official orthography, and has a variant pronunciation fa} in the speech of some speakers. (1:2) bil) (when) [e:2] {hela} (to drag, haul) faa} [dads] (chest, breast) {ua} tanks} (face, page of a book) [0:0] [dose] (sin) foo} sana) (the angsana tree) B. Summary of rules of co-occurrence of vowels in the initial syllable with those in final closed syllable: 1, There is regular co-occurrence between two half- close front vowels, [¢ : e), between two half-close back vowels, (o : 0}, and between two open front vowels, [aral. ere} — [cete?) (shallow) fo:0} {poko?} (twee, plant) {a:a) (padan} (field)Vowel Harmony 29 2, There is regular co-occurrence between two half- close front and back vowels, [e : 0], and vice-versa, fore}. fe:0} [tenof] (to see) foze] [boleh] (possible, able) 8. The close front vowel, [5], with the half-close front tel, or back, fo}, ie. fi: e) and fi: 0}. five) (giget) (to bite) fi: 0] — [tiro?) {a lance for spearing fish) 4, The close back vowel, (v1, with the half-close front, (el, or back, fo}, i.e. (w+ e] and [u: 0}. t Tbuket) (hill) [tuboh} (body) EO] 5. The central vowel (2), with the half-close front vowel {e}, or back fo) fo:e] and (9:0). t {tabey] (bank, river bank) t Tkoroh] (muddy) 6. The open front vowel, (a), with the half-close front and with the half-close back vowels, i.e. (a : ¢1 and (a: 0). {ase} (gapfel] (odd, different) [a0] [batot] {10 cough) 7, The close front and back vowels, (i) and (vl, with the front open vowel, {a}, ise, (isa] and (u : (ira) {pinay} (areeanut) {usa} {bulan) (moon) 8, The half-close front and back vowels, (e) and {0} with the front open vowel, (a), ic. (e : 4) and fora). le fo (separ) (to kick) Tkota?), (box) ‘The close front and back vowels, (1) and [u1, do not, as a rule, occur in closed final syllables, but as variants of {¢} and {0} respectively, they occur Preceding the voiceless alveolar fricative {s) in final30 The Malay Sound System position’. As variants, then, the following co-occurrences are found: Uris) vanof (ses) (kikis] {kikes} (to serape) us} var of [i:os) [tikus} {tikos} (mouse, rat) is] var.of a:es) [habis} thabes] (Finished) us} var.of (a:0s} [bagusf {agos} (good) is) var.of (uses) (tulis} tues] (to write) [urus} var of (wos) [tulus) {tulos} (sincere) Loris) var.of [oes] [kobis] forts] varof [a:es} (banis] [o:us) var of (9:05) {tebus] kobes] (cabbage) hanes} (angry) {tabos] (to redeem) 10. From the following extractions (taken from the possibilities in 2.2B(1) to (8) above), we find that all the six different vowels in initial position may co-occur with the open front vowel, (a), in final closed syllable: Gia) {pina} (arecanut) {era} {sepa} (to kick) {a:a} [oapat] (much, many) {usa} [bulan} (moon) {o:a] [kotat] (a box) {o:a] [bonan] (thread) ‘There are a number of reasons why exceptions occur. Among these, as stated earlier, are the peculiar qualities of the vowel sounds themselves, the peculiarities of certain words, the origin of words, and above all, the peculiarities of individual speakers and of speakers as a whole within the limits of what is termed the standard pronunciation, In addition to these arc dialectal pecul- iarities and variations which speakers introduce into the standard pronunciation. Already in 2.2., especially A(5) and (6), and B(9), we have seen these exceptions to the regular patterns. "See also 2.2(1), Frequently [1] and (1 occur preceding (m}, (1), (9) and (1) in final position (see the relevant sections on these consonants),Vowel Harmony 31 In more detail, these and other exceptions are as fol- lows: 1. According to the examples given in 2.2., the high front and back vowels, (11 and fu}, are not found in penultimate position in closed syllables, ex- cept as variants of some other sounds. By this is meant that they are used by some speakers in the place of tel and {o} respectively, particularly if the final con- sonant is the voiceless alveolar fricative, (s}, for instance: [bonis] instead of {banes} (angry) Ukunis) instead of (kuros} (chin) 2. The half-close front, the half-close back and the open front vowels {e, 0, a}, are very frequently used by many speakers instead of the sounds {er, or, ar] respectively, in syllable final position, for instance: [pase] instead of {paser] (sand) {(kapo} instead of (kapor) (chalk, lime) {besa} instead of (basar] (big) 3, The open front vowel [a] in relation to the central vowel {21 : certain speakers do not use the central vowel in open syllable final position; they use instead the open front member of the (9: a) group. For them, words which in the official orthography are spelt with the letter ‘a’ in final position will always be pronounced with a final ta} and not (0), for instance: isa always {kira} Instead of (Ho] ' (10 count) imeja always {melo} instead of fmefo} (table) jala always Jala} instead of (fala (net) buta always (buta} instead of (bute) (blind) kota always {kota} instead of [kota] (Fort. city) bela always (bola) instead of {bala} (to bring up, to rear) Still on the subject of exception to vowel harmony and in relation to the half-close front and back vowels fe} and {0}, from the groups {e+e}, fe +0) on the$2 The Malay Sound System eer eh ree ee eee one hand, and fo: e} and {0:0} on the other, is the use by a fair number of speakers of a lower variety of front and back vowels in addition to and in certain positions, instead of the vowels {e) and [0]. The additional member of the first group is a variety of front vowel lower than i] or {e}, which may be symbolised by [e}, and which in relation to the other front vowels may be termed hall-open front vowel! . The additional member for the second group is a variety of back vowel lower than [u) or (0) and of about the same height as te); this vowel may be symbolised by (01, and in relation to the other back vowels it may be termed half-open back vowel”. For the class of speakers using these additional vowels, the vowel chart may be redrawn as follows: Half-open Open Fig. 5, Diagram of Pure Vowels (including [e] and {2}) ics terminology: ‘Lower-mid front vowel’, In producing this half-open front vowel, (e}, the front of the tongue is placed mid-way between the positions for [e) and {1}. The tip of the tongue is nearly touching the lower teeth- the lips are unrounded and the opening between the Jaws is between medium and wide, 7 Also called, ‘Lower-mid back vowel’, In producing this half- ‘open back vowel, (9), the back of the tongue is placed in a position slightly lower than for [0] and the tongue-tip is low down in the mouth and close to but not touching the lower teeth-ridge; the lips are rounded, and are rather opener than for [0} the opening between the jaws i between mediumVowel Harmony 33 For this class of speakers, then, the somewhat ‘re- arranged’ vowel co-occurrences will be as follows: 1. fe) replaces te}, and {2} replaces 0} in the co-occurrences [e:e}, {e:0], [0+e] and fo: 0}, for instance: {ee} instead of (ese) Tete} instead of {Hetet) (shallow) {cfet) instead of (et (to tease) instead of (e+ 0] {els} instead of [elot) (good) {betot) instead of Belo?) (co eur) {p+e) instead of {0¢] (lnke?] inscad of floke?} (stingy) foter) intend of [tet] (saltwater fish) {0:0} instead of (0:0) {hodah} instead of (bodok) (stupid) {boras) instead of [Doras] (extravagant) le: 2. The initial (oy in the co-occurrences (0 : f1, fo: a] and [0:9] will be replaced by. (21, for instance: {roti} instead of (roti) (bread) {dobi] instead of [dobi) (laundry, dhobi) {oa} instead of (0: a} [rosaf] instead of (rosa (spoilt, damaged) kota?) instead of (kota?) (a box) fo 28] instead of (0: 0] {rode} instead of [rode] (wheel) {kote} instead of [koto] (fort, city) [o:i] instead of fo: 3. In closed final syllable of the co-occurrences (e :¢1, (e:9), (9:6) and {0:0}, this class of speakers will use, as variants, the vowels {e} and {9} instead of (er) or {on (for the en and {or} with other speakers), for instance: fee} instead of (¢:er) (bese) instead of [beser) —_{inconti- rence of sine) [e +9] instead of [e : or) {tel} instead of [telor) (dialectal pronuncia tion) {mone} instead of {maner) (in such ex pression as “titer monet] absolutely clean) {959} instead of (9: or) {koto} instead of (kotor) (dirty)34 The Malay Sound System 4, The vowels te and [0} in positions or co-oceur- rences other than those stated above (i.e. in 1.92.1 (1), (2) and (3) will not normally be replaced by (} and {01 in the speech of this class of speakers! . Practice 6A (Vowel Harmony: All Syllables) Phonetic transrip- Speling | tion and pronun- Meaning elation vev ink (ini i isi) content tim) the, that, those | tela] to spell (cla) yard Capi] fire, light [ape what faku} I, me, my wit to test veve ited duck tikat) to tie, to knot {ikot} to follow {elat] to pull, to haul felo?] good to change, to transfer elder brother younger brother or younger sister agung fagon} big, great lat {ulat) insect ubah {ubah} to change, to alter ‘Je is difficult to ascertain the proportion of speakers who use the {ee}, [e#0}, (0 +e) and (0:0) vowel harmony on the one hand, andthe (©: €), (e #9}, (9:e] and (0:9) harmony on the other. It should be noted by learners of the standard pronunciation, however, that both these types of vowel harmony are acceptable as standard,Vowel Harmony 35 Practice 6B (Vowel Harmony: All Syllables) Phonetic transerip- Spelling | tion and pronun- Meaning ciation veve | ibni bai son of itm {emu} knowledge alpa {alpa] to forget (variant of ups} ampu Campa to support, hold up send {undiy vote, to vote sungh funku} ahereditary title sunta unte) camel vecve| ibis {ibles} the devil indang lindan] to winnow imbuh imboh} to make up the balance ambit [ambel) to take, to fetch ‘ongkat tankat) tolife, to carry aniing fanfen) dog antuk ante?) to collide ungkil funkel} to lever up onggok fongotl to heap, to heap up ungeas tuygas bird ancik fener} an honorific tile (like ‘mister’) Practice 6C 2 (Vowel Harmony: All Syllables) Phonetic transcrip- 4 Spelling tion and pronun- Meaning ciation cvev (pip!) ‘chev, (bist) dumb (bila) when {beta} the royal ‘we! (aki) balance, remainder taal wage, salary Calo} net stone {betu)36 The Malay Sound System ia EN se Practice 6C (Vowel Harmony: All Syllables) Phonetic transcrip- Spetting | tion and pronun- Meaning ciation cur asi) to steal gust {gusi) ‘gum (in the mouth) buku buku book buka bubs} to open uta (but) blind beri oor) to give tebu {tabu} sugar-cane sera (kor0] monkey bela {ola} to rear, to bring up roti (roti) bread dosa {oso} sin Practice 6D (Vowel Harmony: All Syllables) Phonetic transcrip- Spelling | tion and pronun- Meaning ciation cveve | piring {piren) saucer, small plate lang {hilag) to lose, to disappear hidung thidon) nose catch (eter) shallow sepak {sepatl to kick belok [belo to tum, to swerve balik (ater) to return hapal (kapal) ship basuh {asoh) to wash putih {puteh) white budak fbudat] child bunang {buron) bird boleh {oleh} possible, able sorak {sorat {0 cheer, applause boros [boros) extravagant ecil tkobtel) small esol (iosal} to regret betul (ato!) ‘correct, rightVowel Harmony 37 Practice 6E (Vowel Harmony: All Syllables) Phonetic transcrip Spelling | tion and pronun- Meaning ciation cvecy | tinggi {tingid ‘high, tall timba {timbo} pail, bucket “~ pintw {pintu) door renda [rendo} lace gant! (ganti] to change, to replace, to substitute tangga [tango] stairs, steps, ladder bantu [bantu] to help, to ai sumbi (sumbi] patching (of teeth, etc) temba (lumbs} torace tungew {tungul to wait domba {dombo}] a Persian sheep genta [genta] bell henti thonti] to stop tentu [rontu) certain, sure Practice 6F (Vowel Harmony: All Syllables) Phonetic transerip- Spelling | tion and pronun- Meaning ciation CvccvC] timbang {[timban] to weigh pimpin {pimpen] to lead, to guide timbul {timbol] to emerge pendek [pende?) short lengeang flengan) swinging of hand when walking lengkok [enkot} to bend, to wi sambit [sambel) while tampal (tampal) to patch gontung {ganton) to hang, to suspend sumpit {sumpet) bag made of panda eaves, also: to shoot with a blowpipe38 The Malay Sound System Spelting | tion and pronun- Meaning ciation umpah [sumpahi to swear, to curse, to utter an oath ungeuh {sungoh} true, sure tongkeng | (onken) the rump, tombak [tombaz] spear sombong | {sombon] proud, boastful bersih Chorseh} lean tendang {tondan} tokick mendung | (mondo) overcast (of weather) Finally, as a further point on exceptions to the rules of vowel harmony, there occurs in the speech of many speakers of the standard dialect a variety of central vowel, produced with a lower tongue position than that described for the central vowel {0}. This position is often referred to as a ‘neutral position’, and the vowel a neutral vowel. Normally, speakers who use the lower front and back vowels, te] and (o1, are very likely to use the lower variety of central vowel also. Therefore, with due regard to exceptions here and there, these speakers will have a system of nine vowels in their speech, as follows: Front Central Back Close 1 Half-close € ‘9 Halfopen fel, fol, fa]Vowel Harmony 39 This additional vowel, (1, is used purely as a variant of 21, particularly in word final position. In the case of a disyllabic word, the use of this vowel in word final position need not cause any change in the qualities of the vowel in the preceding syllable. On occasions, however, adjustments are made by some speakers in the tongue positioning of the vowel in the first syllable, to respond, as it were, to the situa- tion to be caused by the occurrence of a lower variety vowel in the following syllable. The possible occurrences of the lower central vowel are as follows: 1. It may occur in final position, instead of the vowel [9], while the vowel in the preceding syllable remains as it was. (we, us, our) (to avenge) [dada] instead of [dado] (chest) {kuda) instead of [kuda] (horse) [o:3} instead of [0:2] [roda}, instead of {rods] (wheel) [2:3] instead of [2:0] (kera] instead of [kare] (monkey) Of the above patterns, the following may have ad- justments made in the tongue positioning for the vowel in the first syllable: [e: a) adjusted to [c+ 3] [bela] adjusted to [bela] {o: 3} adjusted to (2: a] {roda] adjusted to {roda} {o: 3} adjusted to [3:9] (kers) adjusted to [kara] 2. It may occur in the place of {a} in the first syl- lable, with the second vowel being (1) or (v}_in open position, and [e1, f21 oF (o} in closed position. bali) instead of (bali) (to buy) {9 5) instead of [9 i) [3 u) instead of ( [tabu] instead of (tabu) (sugarcane) [3:¢) instead of {2 e] {pate} instead of {potet} (to pluck) a] (pagan) instead of (pagan) (to hold) [3a] instead of ( (0) {barot} instead of (boro?) (monkey) [9 0} instead of Notes 1. {9:21 iota pone cooccurens Fre enaee ten sore are een wed for empha