Linking Processes in Patterned Aghem Genealogical Names

Abstract

Generally, Aghem names are pronounced differently when in isolation
since their word-final segments tend to be in their ideal forms, but when
conjointly pronounced in a genealogical pattern, a number of phonological changes, typically linking processes affecting sounds in company, emerge. This paper seeks to describe and explicate, using Descriptive Linguistics, the phonological linking processes that arise when matrilineal or patrilineal serial names are pronounced. Data for the paper came from participant observation and a tape-recorded interview which sought to get the genealogical names of the informants. The interview was based on a corpus of one-hundred and four Aghem male and female names collected from thirty Aghem native speakers who were interviewed. The focus questions of the interview required respondents to introduce themselves through their matrilineal and patrilineal family chained names. The findings reveal that conjointly pronouncing family tree names is only possible through the employment of phonological strategies as consonant -vowel liaison, vowel-consonant liaison, consonant-consonant liaison, final nasal deletion and vowel lengthening, coalescence and vowel lengthening, diphthongization, prothesis, and final /a/ deletion.