Stress, Extrametricality and the Minimal Word in Seri

Statement of Responsibility: 
Marlett, Stephen A
Issue Date: 
2008
Is Part Of Series: 
Linguistic Discovery, 6(1)
Extent: 
14 pages
Abstract: 
Seri, a language isolate spoken in northwestern Mexico, regularly assigns stress to the penultimate syllable of a root; affixes are not relevant for determining the placement of stress. A heavy final syllable in the root attracts stress, however, although a final consonant is extrametrical. The final consonant of a word is relevant for the minimal word condition that major class lexical items respect, as this paper shows. Some roots have extrametrical final syllables and a few roots have exceptional stress. This paper documents these facts with audio recordings.
Publication Status: 
Published
Country: 
Mexico
Subject Languages: 
Content Language: 
Field: 
Work Type: 
Nature of Work: 
Is Translation Of: 
Entry Number: 
1463