Simalungun language phonotactics: the study of phonology

Abstract

Phonotactics research is a procedure for the discovery and determination of the sequence and phonemes in a language based on distribution (beginning, middle and end of a word). Each language has a special characteristic in phonotactics. Therefore, phonotractics research needs to be done. The purpose of this study is to describe a series of vocal, diphthong, a sequence of consonants, and syllables. The method used was descriptive qualitative methods by collecting data through observation, interview and study library by using the phonotractics theory initiated by O’Grady, et al (1989) and Pulgram (1970). Based on the analysis of phonotractics in Simalungun language, vowel sequence was found to occupy the position of beginning, middle and end of a Word. Diphthongs only occupied the position of the end of a word, whereas the consonant sequence was only found in the middle of word. The results of the analysis showed that the vowel sequence consists of sixteen (16), namely: vowel sequence /ai/, /au/, /ae/, /ao/, /ia/, /iu/, /io/, /ua/, /ue/, /uo/, /ui/, ea/, /eu/, /eo/, /oa/ and /oi/. Diftong consists of three (3), they are /ou/, /ei/, and /ui/. There are ten (10) consonant sequences, namely: a). The sequence starts with a consonant /h/ as : /-hb-/, /-hk-/, /-hp-/, and /-ht-/., b). The sequence starts with a consonant /k/ as : /-kb-/, /-kd-/, /-kj-/, /-kl-/, /-km-/, /-kp-/, and /-kt-/., c). The sequence starts with a consonant /l/ as : /-lb-/, /-ld-/, /-lh-/, /-lm-/, /-lg-/, /-lg-/, /-lj-/, /-lŋ-/, /-lp-/, and /-lt/., d). The sequence starts with a consonant /m/ as : /-mb-/, /-mm-/, /-ml-/, and /-mp-/., e). The sequence starts with a consonant /n/ as : /-nd-/, /-nj-/, /-ns-/, and /-nt-/., f). The sequence starts with a consonant /ŋ/ as : /- ŋ g-/, /- ŋ j-/, /- ŋ k-/, /- ŋ l-/, /- ŋ m-/, /- ŋ r-/, /- ŋ s-/, and /- ŋ t-/., g). The sequence starts with a consonant /p/ as : /-pd-/, /-ph-/, /-pr-/, /-ps-/, and /-pt-/., h). The sequence starts with a consonant /r/ as: /-rb-/, /-rd-/, /-rg-/, /-rk-/, /-rj-/, /-rl-/, /-rŋ-/, /-rp-/, and /-rt-/., i). The sequence starts with a consonant /s/ as: /-sd-/, /-sq-/, /-sk-/, /-sp-/ and /-st-/., j). The sequence starts with a consonant /t/ as : /-tg-/, /-tp-/, and /-tr-/. The syllables in the vowel sequence consist of V, VK. KV, and KVK. The syllable in diphthongs consists of KVV at the end of the word and the consonant sequence consists of the KK which occupies the middle position of the word.