Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?

The phonological status of word-initial glottal stops in Persian has been a subject of controversy. Particularly, researchers hold divergent views on whether the glottal stop functions as a phoneme in word-initial positions. These perspectives can be categorized into three main positions: (1) glotta...

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Main Author: Ali Pirhayati
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: Razi University 2024-12-01
Series:مطالعات زبان‌‌ها و گویش‌های غرب ایران
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Online Access:https://jlw.razi.ac.ir/article_3375_9b4e31a847dc0381f3114586a2c94ed3.pdf
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author Ali Pirhayati
author_facet Ali Pirhayati
author_sort Ali Pirhayati
collection DOAJ
description The phonological status of word-initial glottal stops in Persian has been a subject of controversy. Particularly, researchers hold divergent views on whether the glottal stop functions as a phoneme in word-initial positions. These perspectives can be categorized into three main positions: (1) glottal stops are phonemes in all occurrences (Samareh, 1985; Windfuhr, 1979); (2) word-initial glottal stops are phonemes only in loanwords, especially from Arabic (Bijankhan, 2018; Haghshenas, 1991; Jam, 2019; Kord-Zaferanloo-Kambozia, 2003); and (3) word-initial glottal stops are not phonemes in Persian (Jahani, 2005; Majidi & Ternes, 1999; Sepanta, 1973). In this paper, a critical review of previous findings is provided along with new insights and neglected evidence relevant to the underlying representations of words with glottal stops. Based on these considerations, the paper leans towards the position that glottal stops function as phonemes in all positions regardless of occurrence in loanwords or native words. It also calls for a revision of previous research, emphasizing the importance of non-acoustic aspects in exploring the phonological functions of word-initial glottal stops.
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series مطالعات زبان‌‌ها و گویش‌های غرب ایران
spelling doaj-art-44483f5547e84c6a80efdd06521475d72025-01-27T21:35:18ZfasRazi Universityمطالعات زبان‌‌ها و گویش‌های غرب ایران2345-25792676-573X2024-12-01124819010.22126/jlw.2024.10677.17653375Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?Ali Pirhayati0PhD in Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranThe phonological status of word-initial glottal stops in Persian has been a subject of controversy. Particularly, researchers hold divergent views on whether the glottal stop functions as a phoneme in word-initial positions. These perspectives can be categorized into three main positions: (1) glottal stops are phonemes in all occurrences (Samareh, 1985; Windfuhr, 1979); (2) word-initial glottal stops are phonemes only in loanwords, especially from Arabic (Bijankhan, 2018; Haghshenas, 1991; Jam, 2019; Kord-Zaferanloo-Kambozia, 2003); and (3) word-initial glottal stops are not phonemes in Persian (Jahani, 2005; Majidi & Ternes, 1999; Sepanta, 1973). In this paper, a critical review of previous findings is provided along with new insights and neglected evidence relevant to the underlying representations of words with glottal stops. Based on these considerations, the paper leans towards the position that glottal stops function as phonemes in all positions regardless of occurrence in loanwords or native words. It also calls for a revision of previous research, emphasizing the importance of non-acoustic aspects in exploring the phonological functions of word-initial glottal stops.https://jlw.razi.ac.ir/article_3375_9b4e31a847dc0381f3114586a2c94ed3.pdfglottal stoppersiansyllable structureunderlying representation
spellingShingle Ali Pirhayati
Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?
مطالعات زبان‌‌ها و گویش‌های غرب ایران
glottal stop
persian
syllable structure
underlying representation
title Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?
title_full Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?
title_fullStr Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?
title_full_unstemmed Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?
title_short Revisiting Word-initial Glottal Stops in Persian: Underlying or Epenthetic?
title_sort revisiting word initial glottal stops in persian underlying or epenthetic
topic glottal stop
persian
syllable structure
underlying representation
url https://jlw.razi.ac.ir/article_3375_9b4e31a847dc0381f3114586a2c94ed3.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT alipirhayati revisitingwordinitialglottalstopsinpersianunderlyingorepenthetic