Accent in Takibakha Bunun

Abstract

This study examines the accent pattern in Takibakha Bunun (Austronesian). There are two basic accent patterns among Bunun dialects: the penultimate pattern and ultimate. Among Bunun dialects, Takibakha and Isbkun are described as the penultimate pattern, while other dialects including Takituduh are described as the ultimate pattern. The accent patterns in two Bunun dialects (Isbukun and Takituduh) has been explained by Optimality Theory. However, this paper proposes that the accent patterns can be explained without Optimality Theory, by focusing on Takibakha Bunun (penultimate pattern). In the penultimate pattern, the accent falls on the syllable containing the penultimate mora. The accent shows complex patterns when there is a vowel cluster such as ai, ia, au, ua, ui, iu in a word, whether it is a root (or stem) form or a suffixed form. In a non-final position, ai and au undergo diphthongization. In the speech of young generation, the diphthong ai and au became e and o as described in Pan [2018]. Vowel clusters ia and ua in a non-final position first undergoes metathesis ai and au. After they became diphthongs, they are monophthongized to e and o in younger generations’ speech. Vowel clusters iu and ui do not undergo diphthongization.