Hybrid Sounds in Yoruba

Abstract

Yoruba does not permit consonant clustering in its syllables and any borrowed word with consonant cluster must first be adapted to this structure. This research studies data of everyday usage of the language by three competent native speakers and reports that the constraints against the clustering of consonants are no longer sacrosanct. It is argued that Yoruba is at a stage in which the nativization of borrowed words containing consonant clusters no longer takes its full course. Thus consonant clusters, which are mainly borrowed from English, are now frequently attested in everyday use of Yoruba. The patterns of occurrence of these clusters are described and it is argued that there are significant differences between their pronunciations in Yoruba compared to English, indicating that they are semi-nativized. This is especially evident in the transitional sonority between a cluster of obstruents, as well as the release of plosives even when it is the first element in a cluster. In addition to the recorded data studied, supplementary recognition experiments were conducted whereby speakers were presented with everyday language use scenarios and were then asked to judge between fully-nativized, semi-nativized and non-nativized clusters. In almost all instances, speakers were unanimous in their choice of semi-nativized clusters. The semi-nativized consonant clusters are therefore regarded as hybrid sounds. In their semi-nativized form, these hybrid sounds are gradually diffusing into the language as a result of increasing bilingualism in English among Yoruba speakers. It is shown that the diffusion is mostly driven by social class and religion.