Zuni Phonology - Syllable and Phonotactics

Syllable and Phonotactics

Zuni syllables have the following specification:

C₁(C₂)V(ː)(C₃)(C₄)

That is, all syllables must start with a consonant in the syllable onset. The onset may optionally have two consonants. The syllable coda is optional and may consist of a single consonant or two consonants. There are restrictions on the combinations with long vowels, which are listed below.

Onset. When the onset is a single consonant (i.e., CV(:), CV(:)C, or CV(:)CC), C₁ may be any consonant. When the onset is a two consonant cluster (i.e., CCV(:), CCV(:)C, or CCV(:)CC), C₁ may only be /ts, tʃ, k, kʷ/, and C₂ may only be /ʔ/. These onset clusters can occur word-initially.

Nucleus. Any vowel of either length may be the syllable nucleus when open (i.e., has no coda: CV(:) or CCV(:)) or with a single consonant coda (i.e., CV(:)C or CCV(:)C). When the coda consists of two consonant cluster, the nucleus may be any short vowel; however, long vowels only occur with coda consisting of /tsʔ, tʃʔ, kʔ, kʷʔ/.

Coda. A single coda C₃ may be any consonant. When the coda is a two consonant cluster (i.e., CV(:)CC or CCV(:)CC), any combination of consonants may occur with the following exception: if C₃ is /ts, tʃ, kʷ/, then C₄ can only be either /ʔ/ or an identical consonant (C₃ = C₄).

Non-tautosyllabic combinations. Inside words, a short vowel plus a two consonant coda (i.e., CVCC or CCVCC) may only be followed by a syllable with a /ʔ/ onset. Likewise, a long vowel plus a single consonant coda (i.e., CV:C or CCV:C) may only be followed by a /ʔ/ onset. An open syllable (i.e., CV(:) or CCV(:)) and a short vowel plus a single consonant coda (i.e., CVC or CCVC) may be followed by a syllable with any possible onset.