Iambic Feet in Japanese: Evidence from the Maisaka Dialect

Abstract

This paper shows that both iambic and trochaic feet are indispensable in the analysis of the accent patterns of both nouns and verbs in the Maisaka dialect. Without referring to foot structure, it is not possible to formulate insightful generalizations that account for gaps in the nominal accent system and for alternations in the accent patterns of both nouns and verbs. The preferred foot type in the Maisaka dialect is the iamb. This is an important finding, as it has been argued that in Tokyo Japanese the preferred foot type is the trochee. Although iambs are preferred in Maisaka Japanese, trochees are allowed in order to avoid accent on the final mora of the phonological word. The Maisaka dialect thus provides us with evidence for the co-existence of iambs and trochees in one and the same accent system.