LINGUIST List 13.584

Sat Mar 2 2002

Qs: Copy Vowels/Clarification, Data Elicitation

Editor for this issue: Karen Milligan <karenlinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Nancy E Hall, copy vowels
2. Diane Boonen, eliciting data from young deaf children

	I am reposting this query because it contained a typo that
made the question seem contradicted by the data given.

	There are examples where epenthetic copy vowels show
'overapplication' of a phonological process. For example, Winnebago
normally nasalizes vowels after a nasal consonant as in [wanIk] 'bird'
(capital = nasalized vowel). Winnebago also inserts a copy vowel into
obstruent + sonorant clusters. In these cases, the copy vowel will
undergo nasalization if the original vowel does, even though the copy
vowel is not on the surface in a position where nasalization is
expected: /knak/ -> [kAnAk] 'marry'.
	
I am looking for more examples of overapplication as well as
examples of 2 other possible behaviors of copy vowels:

1. Cases where a copy vowel and original vowel end up different due to
normal, contextual variation. For example, where different allophones
of the same vowel show up in the original and copy, or where one only
one vowel undergoes some process such as ablaut.

2. Cases where both the original vowel and copy vowel undergo a
process that only the COPY is in the normal position for.

This is part of a project to study subtypes of copy vowel epenthesis.
I will post a summary of responses.

Thank you,
Nancy Hall

nancyhlinguist.umass.edu
University of Massachusetts-Amherst

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-13-552

Dear members,
	
Recently I started working on a research project on language
acquisition (both Flemish Sign Language and Dutch) of prelingual deaf
children in a bilingual school system. The age of the children varies
between 3 and 10 years old.

I have now come across some methodology problems, more specific on how
to elicit data. Since the children vary in age so much, I wonder whether
it would be methodologically correct to use different materials /
techniques to elicit data in order to be able to select material which
will interest the child. For example: could I use cartoon x for one age
group and cartoon y for another (if both have a similar topic)?

Secondly I have tried out different types of material in order to elicit
data however, none of them produced a satisfactory result. Especially
the youngest group of children poses difficulties: cartoons nor comics
or toys worked. Do any of you have experience with elicitng data from
such young children or know any references?

I also wonder whether spontaneous conversation could be used since I am
afraid that if the data vary too much, no comparison will be possible.
Do any of you disagree?