Supplemental Proceedings

Strong and Weak Low Tones in Peñoles Mixtec

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Abstract

Mixtec languages have some of the most complex tonal systems in the world and pose a challenge to frameworks for tonal analysis. In this chapter, I argue that analysing floating L tone association in Peñoles Mixtec can be done successfully with Gradient Symbolic Representations. By deriving an independently motivated distinction between weak and strong L tones at the word level, the deletion of floating L in a highly specific context at the phrasal phonology becomes straightforward. Through the same mechanism of gradient representations, a unified explanation is given for the exceptional phonological behaviour of the enclitic /=kwe/. The analysis does not need to rely on complex constraints, multiple grammars, or morpheme-specific phonology.

How to Cite:

van Hugte, T., (2025) “Strong and Weak Low Tones in Peñoles Mixtec”, Proceedings of the Annual Meetings on Phonology 1(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/amphonology.3046