Geminates and vowel laxing in Quebec French

Anaële Cuerrier | Concordia University

Charles Reiss | Concordia University

Laxing and harmony in Quebec French (QF) high vowels shows dialectal, register and perhaps even lexical variation. A recent proposal to handle some of the data (Poliquin 2006) contains a radical innovation to phonological theory concerning long-distance segment interactions. We question the necessity of such an account by pointing out that recognition of geminate sonorants in QF can explain some puzzling forms without recourse to new devices. Our account is supported by phonetic considerations, as well as by recognizing that the alternative both under and overgenerates lax vowels in surface forms.

Keywords: vowel harmony, French, Quebec French, phonology, laxing, syllable, geminate

Published online: 21 August 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/rllt.16.05cue

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