Bruce Connell
2021
Connell, Bruce; Griffiths, Sascha Sebastian; Martin, Marieke; Martin, Marieke; Hayward, Laura; Zeitlyn, David
Language ecology, language endangerment, and relict languages: Case studies from Adamawa (Cameroon-Nigeria) Journal Article
In: Open Linguistics, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 244-300, 2021.
@article{Connell2021,
title = {Language ecology, language endangerment, and relict languages: Case studies from Adamawa (Cameroon-Nigeria)},
author = {Bruce Connell and Sascha Sebastian Griffiths and Marieke Martin and Marieke Martin and Laura Hayward and David Zeitlyn},
doi = {10.1515/opli-2021-0011},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-06-01},
journal = {Open Linguistics},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {244-300},
abstract = {As a contribution to the more general discussion on causes of language endangerment and death, we describe the language ecologies of four related languages (Bà Mambila [mzk]/[mcu], Sombә (Somyev or Kila) [kgt], Oumyari Wawa [www], Njanga (Kwanja) [knp]) of the Cameroon-Nigeria borderland to reach an understanding of the factors and circumstances that have brought two of these languages, Sombә and Njanga, to the brink of extinction; a third, Oumyari, is unstable/eroded, while Bà Mambila is stable. Other related languages of the area, also endangered and in one case extinct, fit into our discussion, though with less focus. We argue that an understanding of the language ecology of a region (or of a given language) leads to an understanding of the vitality of a language. Language ecology seen as a multilayered phenomenon can help explain why the four languages of our case studies have different degrees of vitality. This has implications for how language change is conceptualised: we see multilingualism and change (sometimes including extinction) as normative.},
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As a contribution to the more general discussion on causes of language endangerment and death, we describe the language ecologies of four related languages (Bà Mambila [mzk]/[mcu], Sombә (Somyev or Kila) [kgt], Oumyari Wawa [www], Njanga (Kwanja) [knp]) of the Cameroon-Nigeria borderland to reach an understanding of the factors and circumstances that have brought two of these languages, Sombә and Njanga, to the brink of extinction; a third, Oumyari, is unstable/eroded, while Bà Mambila is stable. Other related languages of the area, also endangered and in one case extinct, fit into our discussion, though with less focus. We argue that an understanding of the language ecology of a region (or of a given language) leads to an understanding of the vitality of a language. Language ecology seen as a multilayered phenomenon can help explain why the four languages of our case studies have different degrees of vitality. This has implications for how language change is conceptualised: we see multilingualism and change (sometimes including extinction) as normative.
Connell, Bruce
Downdrift, downstep, and declination Journal Article
In: Typology of African prosodic systems, 2021.
@article{Connell2021b,
title = {Downdrift, downstep, and declination},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = { Typology of African prosodic systems},
abstract = {One common means of typologizing tone languages is according to their characteristics of pitch realization. In this paper I look at a set of these that has frequently been used in discussing the typology of tone languages in West Africa – the phonological and phonetic aspects of tone realization which have been grouped together as 'downtrends'. In particular, I look at the three different downtrends mentioned in the title of this paper, downdrift, downstep, and declination. A review of the literature reveals a conflict in the use of these terms – or in identifying what has been designated by them – in that the same term has been used to refer to different phenomena, or different terms to one and the same phenomenon. This may be problematic in that it may lead to the formulation of inappropriate research questions, and thence to questionable theoretical conclusions. This paper presents instrumental data from a number of different West African languages to illustrate the nature of the problem and then offers a solution. Clarification of this issue sheds new light on the question of which aspects of pitch realization are local and which are global phenomena.},
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One common means of typologizing tone languages is according to their characteristics of pitch realization. In this paper I look at a set of these that has frequently been used in discussing the typology of tone languages in West Africa – the phonological and phonetic aspects of tone realization which have been grouped together as 'downtrends'. In particular, I look at the three different downtrends mentioned in the title of this paper, downdrift, downstep, and declination. A review of the literature reveals a conflict in the use of these terms – or in identifying what has been designated by them – in that the same term has been used to refer to different phenomena, or different terms to one and the same phenomenon. This may be problematic in that it may lead to the formulation of inappropriate research questions, and thence to questionable theoretical conclusions. This paper presents instrumental data from a number of different West African languages to illustrate the nature of the problem and then offers a solution. Clarification of this issue sheds new light on the question of which aspects of pitch realization are local and which are global phenomena.
Connell, Bruce; Bird, Steven
The influence of tone on intrinsic vowel pitch in Mambila and Dschang Journal Article
In: 2021.
@article{Connell2021bb,
title = {The influence of tone on intrinsic vowel pitch in Mambila and Dschang},
author = {Bruce Connell and Steven Bird},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
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Connell, Bruce; Akinlabi, Akinbiyi; Bennett, Will; Essien, Inoma; Ndimele, Ozo-Mekuri; Obikudo, Ebitare
Realizational Differences between Questions and Statements in Defaka Journal Article
In: 2021.
@article{Connell2021bb,
title = {Realizational Differences between Questions and Statements in Defaka},
author = {Bruce Connell and Akinbiyi Akinlabi and Will Bennett and Inoma Essien and Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele and Ebitare Obikudo},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
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Connell, Bruce; Bennett, Wm G; Akinlabi, Akinbiyi
Two Subject Asymmetries in Defaka Focus Constructions Journal Article
In: 2021.
@article{Connell2021bb,
title = {Two Subject Asymmetries in Defaka Focus Constructions},
author = {Bruce Connell and Wm G Bennett and Akinbiyi Akinlabi
},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
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Connell, Bruce; Akinlabi, Akinbiyi; Bennett, Will
Variation in the Acoustic Structure of Defaka Vowels Journal Article
In: Documenting Defaka and Nkoroo, 2021.
@article{Connell2021bb,
title = {Variation in the Acoustic Structure of Defaka Vowels},
author = {Bruce Connell and Akinbiyi Akinlabi and Will Bennett
},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Documenting Defaka and Nkoroo},
abstract = {Def!k! b!ck"round rese!rch on Def!k! phonetics!nd phonolo"y competin " views on the role of [ATR] in Def!k!!coustic me!sures of [ATR]!coustic structure of Def!k! vowels the role of [ATR] in Def!k!? – methodolo"y; results; discussion summ!ry,!coustic structure of Def!k! vowels some "ener!l observ!tions – loss of [ATR] – v!ri!tion!nd l!n"u!"e contr!ctionDef!k! b!ck"round Def!k! spoken in one w!rd of Nkoroo town in SE.},
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Def!k! b!ck"round rese!rch on Def!k! phonetics!nd phonolo"y competin " views on the role of [ATR] in Def!k!!coustic me!sures of [ATR]!coustic structure of Def!k! vowels the role of [ATR] in Def!k!? – methodolo"y; results; discussion summ!ry,!coustic structure of Def!k! vowels some "ener!l observ!tions – loss of [ATR] – v!ri!tion!nd l!n"u!"e contr!ctionDef!k! b!ck"round Def!k! spoken in one w!rd of Nkoroo town in SE.
2019
Connell, Bruce; Akinlabi, Akinbiyi
African Linguistics in Official English-Speaking West Africa Book Chapter
In: pp. 153-177, Cambridge University Press, 2019, ISBN: 9781108417976.
@inbook{Connell2019,
title = {African Linguistics in Official English-Speaking West Africa},
author = {Bruce Connell and Akinbiyi Akinlabi},
doi = {10.1017/9781108283977.008},
isbn = {9781108417976},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-06-13},
pages = {153-177},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
abstract = {The focus is largely on the contributions African scholars have made to the development of linguistics in the region. This cannot be done without acknowledging the contributions of non-Africans to this development. Many of the most influential African linguists received their training abroad, while other ‘non’-African linguists spent sufficiently long periods of their careers in Africa as working linguists and training the early generation of African linguists. Language study in West Africa by African scholars predates the colonial period that established the Anglo/Francophone divide, at least in the person of Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1809-1891). Following the discussion of his work, the chapter looks briefly at other aspects of language study in Freetown, where he was situated, then to look at the true beginnings of modern linguistics in West Africa, with the contribution of the West African Language Survey, the establishment of the West African Linguistics Society/Socété Linguistique d‘Afrique Oriental and the growth of linguistics departments, especially, in Ghana and Nigeria.},
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The focus is largely on the contributions African scholars have made to the development of linguistics in the region. This cannot be done without acknowledging the contributions of non-Africans to this development. Many of the most influential African linguists received their training abroad, while other ‘non’-African linguists spent sufficiently long periods of their careers in Africa as working linguists and training the early generation of African linguists. Language study in West Africa by African scholars predates the colonial period that established the Anglo/Francophone divide, at least in the person of Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1809-1891). Following the discussion of his work, the chapter looks briefly at other aspects of language study in Freetown, where he was situated, then to look at the true beginnings of modern linguistics in West Africa, with the contribution of the West African Language Survey, the establishment of the West African Linguistics Society/Socété Linguistique d‘Afrique Oriental and the growth of linguistics departments, especially, in Ghana and Nigeria.
Connell, Bruce; Haber, Marc; Jones, Abigail L; Asan,; Arciero, Elena; Yang, Huanming; Thomas, Mark G; Xue, Yali; Tyler-Smith, Chris
A Rare Deep-Rooting D0 African Y-Chromosomal Haplogroup and Its Implications for the Expansion of Modern Humans Out of Africa Journal Article
In: Genetics, vol. 112, no. 4, pp. 1421-1428, 2019.
@article{Connell2019b,
title = {A Rare Deep-Rooting D0 African Y-Chromosomal Haplogroup and Its Implications for the Expansion of Modern Humans Out of Africa},
author = {Bruce Connell and Marc Haber and Abigail L Jones and Asan and Elena Arciero and Huanming Yang and Mark G Thomas and Yali Xue and Chris Tyler-Smith},
doi = {10.1534/genetics.119.302368},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-06-13},
journal = {Genetics},
volume = {112},
number = {4},
pages = {1421-1428},
abstract = {Humans expanded out of Africa 50,000-70,000 years ago, but many details of this migration are poorly understood. Here, Haber et al. sequence Y chromosomes belonging to a rare African lineage and analyze... Present-day humans outside Africa descend mainly from a single expansion out ∼50,000–70,000 years ago, but many details of this expansion remain unclear, including the history of the male-specific Y chromosome at this time. Here, we reinvestigate a rare deep-rooting African Y-chromosomal lineage by sequencing the whole genomes of three Nigerian men described in 2003 as carrying haplogroup DE* Y chromosomes, and analyzing them in the context of a calibrated worldwide Y-chromosomal phylogeny. We confirm that these three chromosomes do represent a deep-rooting DE lineage, branching close to the DE bifurcation, but place them on the D branch as an outgroup to all other known D chromosomes, and designate the new lineage D0. We consider three models for the expansion of Y lineages out of Africa ∼50,000–100,000 years ago, incorporating migration back to Africa where necessary to explain present-day Y-lineage distributions. Considering both the Y-chromosomal phylogenetic structure incorporating the D0 lineage, and published evidence for modern humans outside Africa, the most favored model involves an origin of the DE lineage within Africa with D0 and E remaining there, and migration out of the three lineages (C, D, and FT) that now form the vast majority of non-African Y chromosomes. The exit took place 50,300–81,000 years ago (latest date for FT lineage expansion outside Africa – earliest date for the D/D0 lineage split inside Africa), and most likely 50,300–59,400 years ago (considering Neanderthal admixture). This work resolves a long-running debate about Y-chromosomal out-of-Africa/back-to-Africa migrations, and provides insights into the out-of-Africa expansion more generally.},
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Humans expanded out of Africa 50,000-70,000 years ago, but many details of this migration are poorly understood. Here, Haber et al. sequence Y chromosomes belonging to a rare African lineage and analyze... Present-day humans outside Africa descend mainly from a single expansion out ∼50,000–70,000 years ago, but many details of this expansion remain unclear, including the history of the male-specific Y chromosome at this time. Here, we reinvestigate a rare deep-rooting African Y-chromosomal lineage by sequencing the whole genomes of three Nigerian men described in 2003 as carrying haplogroup DE* Y chromosomes, and analyzing them in the context of a calibrated worldwide Y-chromosomal phylogeny. We confirm that these three chromosomes do represent a deep-rooting DE lineage, branching close to the DE bifurcation, but place them on the D branch as an outgroup to all other known D chromosomes, and designate the new lineage D0. We consider three models for the expansion of Y lineages out of Africa ∼50,000–100,000 years ago, incorporating migration back to Africa where necessary to explain present-day Y-lineage distributions. Considering both the Y-chromosomal phylogenetic structure incorporating the D0 lineage, and published evidence for modern humans outside Africa, the most favored model involves an origin of the DE lineage within Africa with D0 and E remaining there, and migration out of the three lineages (C, D, and FT) that now form the vast majority of non-African Y chromosomes. The exit took place 50,300–81,000 years ago (latest date for FT lineage expansion outside Africa – earliest date for the D/D0 lineage split inside Africa), and most likely 50,300–59,400 years ago (considering Neanderthal admixture). This work resolves a long-running debate about Y-chromosomal out-of-Africa/back-to-Africa migrations, and provides insights into the out-of-Africa expansion more generally.
Connell, Bruce; Simeone-Senelle, Marie-Claude; Smidt, Wolbert; Meyer, Ronny; Jakobi, Angelika; Lusekelo, Amani; Akinlabi, Akinbiyi
African linguistics in North-Eastern and so-called Anglophone Africa Book
Cambridge University Press, 2019, ISBN: 9781108283991.
@book{Connell2019bb,
title = {African linguistics in North-Eastern and so-called Anglophone Africa},
author = {Bruce Connell and Marie-Claude Simeone-Senelle and Wolbert Smidt and Ronny Meyer and Angelika Jakobi and Amani Lusekelo and Akinbiyi Akinlabi},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108283991.004},
isbn = {9781108283991},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
number = {73-97},
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2016
Connell, Bruce
Tone and Intonation in Mambila Book Chapter
In: pp. 131-166, De Gruyter Mouton, 2016, ISBN: 9783110503524.
@inbook{Connell2016,
title = {Tone and Intonation in Mambila},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1515/9783110503524-005},
isbn = {9783110503524},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-07},
pages = {131-166},
publisher = {De Gruyter Mouton},
abstract = {Mambila is a Bantoid language spoken in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland. It is a language with four level lexical tones and two grammatical tones. Previous work by the author (see references) indicates that pitch realization in Mambila is rather tightly constrained with respect to downtrends, the intrinsic F0 of vowels, and the overall scaling of tones. The present chapter combines this earlier work with newly reported research to present an overview of tone and intonation in Mambila. The major question addressed is whether Mambila, with its complex and crowded tone space, uses F0 differences to signal differences in sentence type: declaratives, polar questions, and content questions. The results of a series of experimental investigations reveal no consistent contribution of F0 in distinguishing sentence type: Mambila is a language which does not have intonation, as this concept is usually understood. The implications of these findings for intonation theory are discussed in the closing paragraphs of the chapter.},
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Mambila is a Bantoid language spoken in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland. It is a language with four level lexical tones and two grammatical tones. Previous work by the author (see references) indicates that pitch realization in Mambila is rather tightly constrained with respect to downtrends, the intrinsic F0 of vowels, and the overall scaling of tones. The present chapter combines this earlier work with newly reported research to present an overview of tone and intonation in Mambila. The major question addressed is whether Mambila, with its complex and crowded tone space, uses F0 differences to signal differences in sentence type: declaratives, polar questions, and content questions. The results of a series of experimental investigations reveal no consistent contribution of F0 in distinguishing sentence type: Mambila is a language which does not have intonation, as this concept is usually understood. The implications of these findings for intonation theory are discussed in the closing paragraphs of the chapter.
Connell, Bruce
Another perspective on Bennett’s ‘Agreement, dependencies, and Surface Correspondence in Obolo and beyond’ Journal Article
In: Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus, vol. 48, 2016.
@article{Connell2016b,
title = {Another perspective on Bennett’s ‘Agreement, dependencies, and Surface Correspondence in Obolo and beyond’},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.5842/48-0-679},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
journal = {Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus},
volume = {48},
abstract = {Bennett (2014) presents an analysis of phonotactic restrictions on nasal consonants in Obolo [ann] within the confines of Optimality Theory (OT) and Surface Correspondence (SC). My intention here is not to challenge Bennett’s OT/SC view of nasal consonants as being somehow wrong, though I think such accounts are not very satisfactory in understanding why a language is the way it is. Different theories may describe different aspects of the synchronic behaviour of a language reasonably well, though none perhaps entirely adequately. Rather, given that languages are shaped by a variety of influences, including their history, I look at the comparative and diachronic side of the Obolo data to provide what is both a complementary and alternative view to why the restrictions on nasal Cs in Obolo are what they are.},
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Bennett (2014) presents an analysis of phonotactic restrictions on nasal consonants in Obolo [ann] within the confines of Optimality Theory (OT) and Surface Correspondence (SC). My intention here is not to challenge Bennett’s OT/SC view of nasal consonants as being somehow wrong, though I think such accounts are not very satisfactory in understanding why a language is the way it is. Different theories may describe different aspects of the synchronic behaviour of a language reasonably well, though none perhaps entirely adequately. Rather, given that languages are shaped by a variety of influences, including their history, I look at the comparative and diachronic side of the Obolo data to provide what is both a complementary and alternative view to why the restrictions on nasal Cs in Obolo are what they are.
2015
Connell, Bruce
The role of colonial languages in language endangerment in Africa Book Chapter
In: vol. 107-130, pp. 107-130, John Benjamins, 2015.
@inbook{Connell2015,
title = {The role of colonial languages in language endangerment in Africa},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1075/clu.17.04con},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-10-09},
volume = {107-130},
pages = {107-130},
publisher = {John Benjamins},
abstract = {There has been some discussion in the literature on endangered languages about the role – or lack thereof – of colonial languages in presenting a threat to African languages. The view most often offered suggests that in Africa it has typically been African languages, in the form of national languages and regional lingua francas, that endanger smaller, local languages. If this is the case, the task of linguists concerned with the causes of language endangerment is to understand why Africa has not felt the threat of colonial languages in the same way or to the same extent as other regions of the world, such as the Americas or Australia. In this paper I re-examine the question of the role of colonial languages in language endangerment in Africa. A review of literature on colonialist language ideologies and attitudes towards African languages, together with the results of several sociolinguistic surveys into language choice and attitudes, leads me to question the prevailing view. Whether colonial languages are replacing – i.e. directly replacing – African languages is only part of the story. Their use reduces African languages in terms of both prestige and structure, and this contributes to their endangerment. Finally, and from a more general perspective, the pressure to create a ‘modern nation state’, on a Western (colonial) model, in requiring a single unifying language, must be seen as an important factor in language endangerment in Africa.},
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There has been some discussion in the literature on endangered languages about the role – or lack thereof – of colonial languages in presenting a threat to African languages. The view most often offered suggests that in Africa it has typically been African languages, in the form of national languages and regional lingua francas, that endanger smaller, local languages. If this is the case, the task of linguists concerned with the causes of language endangerment is to understand why Africa has not felt the threat of colonial languages in the same way or to the same extent as other regions of the world, such as the Americas or Australia. In this paper I re-examine the question of the role of colonial languages in language endangerment in Africa. A review of literature on colonialist language ideologies and attitudes towards African languages, together with the results of several sociolinguistic surveys into language choice and attitudes, leads me to question the prevailing view. Whether colonial languages are replacing – i.e. directly replacing – African languages is only part of the story. Their use reduces African languages in terms of both prestige and structure, and this contributes to their endangerment. Finally, and from a more general perspective, the pressure to create a ‘modern nation state’, on a Western (colonial) model, in requiring a single unifying language, must be seen as an important factor in language endangerment in Africa.
2010
Connell, Bruce; Veeramah, Krishna; Ansari-Pour, Naser; Powell, Adam; Plaster, Christopher A; Zeitlyn, David; Mendell, Nancy R; Weale, Michael E; Bradman, Neil; Thomas, Mark G
Additional file 1 Miscellaneous
2010.
@misc{Connell2010,
title = {Additional file 1},
author = {Bruce Connell and Krishna Veeramah and Naser Ansari-Pour and Adam Powell and Christopher A Plaster and David Zeitlyn and Nancy R Mendell and Michael E Weale and Neil Bradman and Mark G Thomas},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-03-31},
abstract = {Supplemental Sections and Figures. A document file containing Supplemental Sections 1-3 and Supplemental Figures S1-S12.},
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Supplemental Sections and Figures. A document file containing Supplemental Sections 1-3 and Supplemental Figures S1-S12.
Connell, Bruce; Veeramah, Krishna; Ansari-Pour, Naser; Powell, Adam; Plaster, Christopher A; Zeitlyn, David; Mendell, Nancy R; Weale, Michael E; Bradman, Neil; Thomas, Mark G
Additional file 2, 2010.
@misc{Connell2010b,
title = {Bruce Connell and Krishna Veeramah and Naser Ansari-Pour and Adam Powell and Christopher A Plaster and David Zeitlyn and Nancy R Mendell and Michael E Weale and Neil Bradman and Mark G Thomas},
author = {Bruce Connell and Krishna Veeramah and Naser Ansari-Pour and Adam Powell and Christopher A Plaster and David Zeitlyn and Nancy R Mendell and Michael E Weale and Neil Bradman and Mark G Thomas},
doi = {10.6084/m9.figshare.7790726.v1},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-03-31},
abstract = {Supplemental Tables. A spreadsheet file containing Supplemental Tables S1-S14.},
howpublished = {Additional file 2},
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Supplemental Tables. A spreadsheet file containing Supplemental Tables S1-S14.
Connell, Bruce; Atkinson, David; Bayyurt, Yasemin; Beeman, William O.; Ben-Goechea, Mercedes; Benton, Richard; Boyd, Sally; Bradley, David; Burstein-Feldman, Zhanna; Caubet, Dominique; Collins, Peter; Coronel-Molina, Serafin M.; Bloomington, Indiana University; Darquennes, Jeroen; Dasgupta, Probal; Davies, Winifred V; Di, Nadine; Donohue, Mark; Druviete, Ina; Epstein, Alek D; Farfán, José Antonio Flores; Friedman, Victor; Gold, Elaine; Gottlieb, Nanette; Greenberg, Robert D; Gulida, Victoria; Haddican, Bill; Hay, Jen; Hazen, Kirk; Higgins, Christina; Kheimets, Nina; Kiełkiewicz-Janowiak, Agnieszka; Kontra, Miklós; Kopeliovich, Shulamit; Maclagan, Margaret; Mesthrie, Rajend; Miller, Catherine; Mugler, France; Nekvapil, Jiří; de Oliveira, Sandi Michele; Parry, Mair; Quintero, Viviana; Sardesai, Madhavi; Stuart-Smith, Jane; Walters, Joel; Wee, Lionel; Yitzhaki, Dafna; Youssef, Valerie; Zeitlyn, David; Zhou, Minglang
The Routledge Handbook of Sociolinguistics Around the World Journal Article
In: 2010.
@article{Connell2010bb,
title = {The Routledge Handbook of Sociolinguistics Around the World},
author = {Bruce Connell and David Atkinson and Yasemin Bayyurt and William O. Beeman and Mercedes Ben-Goechea and Richard Benton and Sally Boyd and David Bradley and Zhanna Burstein-Feldman and Dominique Caubet and Peter Collins and Serafin M. Coronel-Molina and Indiana University Bloomington and Jeroen Darquennes and Probal Dasgupta and Winifred V Davies and Nadine Di and Mark Donohue and Ina Druviete and Alek D Epstein and José Antonio Flores Farfán and Victor Friedman and Elaine Gold and Nanette Gottlieb and Robert D Greenberg and Victoria Gulida and Bill Haddican and Jen Hay and Kirk Hazen and Christina Higgins and Nina Kheimets and Agnieszka Kiełkiewicz-Janowiak and Miklós Kontra and Shulamit Kopeliovich and Margaret Maclagan and Rajend Mesthrie and Catherine Miller and France Mugler and Jiří Nekvapil and Sandi Michele de Oliveira and Mair Parry and Viviana Quintero and Madhavi Sardesai and Jane Stuart-Smith and Joel Walters and Lionel Wee and Dafna Yitzhaki and Valerie Youssef and David Zeitlyn and Minglang Zhou},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-01-01},
abstract = {Drawing on examples from a wide range of languages and social settings, The Routledge Handbook of Sociolinguistics Around the World is the first single-volume collection surveying current and recent research trends in international sociolinguistics. With over 30 chapters written by leading authorities in the region concerned, all continents and their respective regions are covered. This book will serve as an important tool to help widen the perspective on sociolinguistics to readers of English. Divided into parts covering: the Americas, Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Middle East, and Europe, the book provides readers with a solid, up-to-date appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of the field of sociolinguistics in each area. It clearly explains the patterns and systematicity that underlie language variation in use, as well as the ways in which alternations between different language varieties mark personal style, social power and national identity. Sociolinguistics Around the World is the ideal resource for all students on undergraduate sociolinguistics courses and researchers involved in the study of language, society and power.},
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Drawing on examples from a wide range of languages and social settings, The Routledge Handbook of Sociolinguistics Around the World is the first single-volume collection surveying current and recent research trends in international sociolinguistics. With over 30 chapters written by leading authorities in the region concerned, all continents and their respective regions are covered. This book will serve as an important tool to help widen the perspective on sociolinguistics to readers of English. Divided into parts covering: the Americas, Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Middle East, and Europe, the book provides readers with a solid, up-to-date appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of the field of sociolinguistics in each area. It clearly explains the patterns and systematicity that underlie language variation in use, as well as the ways in which alternations between different language varieties mark personal style, social power and national identity. Sociolinguistics Around the World is the ideal resource for all students on undergraduate sociolinguistics courses and researchers involved in the study of language, society and power.
Connell, Bruce; Hayward, Richard J; Ashkaba, John Abraha
Observations on Kunama Tone Journal Article
In: Studies in African Linguistics; Vol 29, No 1 (2000), vol. 29, no. 1 , 2010.
@article{Connell2010bb,
title = {Observations on Kunama Tone},
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year = {2010},
date = {2010-01-01},
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volume = {29},
number = {1 },
abstract = {Kunama has been reported by different scholars as having two or three tones, downstep (or not), contrastive length of both consonants and vowels, and lexical stress. Despite this range of reported phenomena, little in-depth research into the prosodic system of Kunama has been undertaken. The aim of the present study is to report such a detailed investigation and to establish on a solid footing basic aspects of the tonal system of Kunama. The work reported is preliminary in the sense that its scope is limited: we present phonological and phonetic evidence for the existence of three level tones, which can combine to form a number of contour tones. This is followed by discussion of tonal phenomena in the noun phrase. No evidence for lexical stress is found.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Kunama has been reported by different scholars as having two or three tones, downstep (or not), contrastive length of both consonants and vowels, and lexical stress. Despite this range of reported phenomena, little in-depth research into the prosodic system of Kunama has been undertaken. The aim of the present study is to report such a detailed investigation and to establish on a solid footing basic aspects of the tonal system of Kunama. The work reported is preliminary in the sense that its scope is limited: we present phonological and phonetic evidence for the existence of three level tones, which can combine to form a number of contour tones. This is followed by discussion of tonal phenomena in the noun phrase. No evidence for lexical stress is found.
2009
Connell, Bruce; Obikudo, Ebitare; Akinlabi, Akinbiyi; Ndimele, Ozo-Mekuri; Bennett, Will; Essien, Inoma
Defaka and Ijo: A reassessment of the Ijoid relationship Conference
Documenting Defaka and Nkoroo, 2009.
@conference{Connell2009,
title = {Defaka and Ijo: A reassessment of the Ijoid relationship},
author = {Bruce Connell and Ebitare Obikudo and Akinbiyi Akinlabi and Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele and Will Bennett and Inoma Essien},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-08-01},
booktitle = {Documenting Defaka and Nkoroo},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Connell, Bruce
Language Diversity and Language Choice: A View from a Cameroon Market Journal Article
In: Anthropological Linguistics, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 130-150, 2009.
@article{Connell2009b,
title = {Language Diversity and Language Choice: A View from a Cameroon Market},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1353/anl.0.0012},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-01-01},
journal = {Anthropological Linguistics},
volume = {51},
number = {2},
pages = {130-150},
abstract = {The immediate goal of the research reported here is to explore constraints on choice of language in the market of a small, highly multilingual village in Cameroon. In so doing, insight is provided both on the language ecology of the region in which the village is situated and on conditions of multilingualism in rural Africa, where the large majority of such research has been urban-based. Two investigative methods are used. The first documents the language encounters of an individual visit to market; the second involves analyzing language choice in a large number of transactions over the course of a single market day. Fourteen different languages were recorded with two, the primary language of the village and the regional lingua franca, vying for predominance.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The immediate goal of the research reported here is to explore constraints on choice of language in the market of a small, highly multilingual village in Cameroon. In so doing, insight is provided both on the language ecology of the region in which the village is situated and on conditions of multilingualism in rural Africa, where the large majority of such research has been urban-based. Two investigative methods are used. The first documents the language encounters of an individual visit to market; the second involves analyzing language choice in a large number of transactions over the course of a single market day. Fourteen different languages were recorded with two, the primary language of the village and the regional lingua franca, vying for predominance.
2007
Connell, Bruce
Mambila fricative vowels and Bantu spirantisation Conference
Bantu Spirantisation Conference, vol. 13, 2007.
@conference{Connell2007,
title = {Mambila fricative vowels and Bantu spirantisation},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-01-01},
booktitle = {Bantu Spirantisation Conference},
volume = {13},
pages = {7-31},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Connell, Bruce
Mambila fricative vowels and Bantu spirantisation Journal Article
In: Africana Linguistica, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 7-31, 2007.
@article{Connell2007b,
title = {Mambila fricative vowels and Bantu spirantisation},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.3406/aflin.2007.969},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-01-01},
journal = {Africana Linguistica},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {7-31},
abstract = {The question of spirantisation in Bantu, whereby stem initial stops have become fricatives, has received considerable attention in the literature on Narrow Bantu. Similar, though not necessarily identical, phenomena in other Bantu languages have received considerably less attention. Nevertheless, it should be clear that such phenomena are related, and indeed should be seen as part and parcel of the same process. In this paper I examine the fricative vowels of Len, a Mambila lect spoken just north of and adjacent to the Grassfields region of Cameroon. After a brief introduction to Len and relevant characteristics of its phonology, I review the phonetic structure of its fricative vowels, and present new evidence for their phonological characterisation. I then look at the phonetic characteristics of related phenomena in nearby Eastern Grassfields languages and one Narrow Bantu language, Fang (A75). Following this, I present evidence that the presence of these vowels in Len results from contact – probably with a Grassfields substratum – rather than inheritance.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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}
The question of spirantisation in Bantu, whereby stem initial stops have become fricatives, has received considerable attention in the literature on Narrow Bantu. Similar, though not necessarily identical, phenomena in other Bantu languages have received considerably less attention. Nevertheless, it should be clear that such phenomena are related, and indeed should be seen as part and parcel of the same process. In this paper I examine the fricative vowels of Len, a Mambila lect spoken just north of and adjacent to the Grassfields region of Cameroon. After a brief introduction to Len and relevant characteristics of its phonology, I review the phonetic structure of its fricative vowels, and present new evidence for their phonological characterisation. I then look at the phonetic characteristics of related phenomena in nearby Eastern Grassfields languages and one Narrow Bantu language, Fang (A75). Following this, I present evidence that the presence of these vowels in Len results from contact – probably with a Grassfields substratum – rather than inheritance.
2006
Connell, Bruce
Mambila Journal Article
In: Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics, pp. 473 - 475, 2006.
@article{Connell2006,
title = {Mambila},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/05117-8},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-12-31},
journal = { Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics},
pages = {473 - 475},
abstract = {Mambila is a Bantoid language situated in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland. This article presents basic information as to the classification of the language, its internal variation, and its linguistic structures. Mambila is a diverse language with approximately 20 different dialects. Among its interesting characteristics is its system of four level tones, and in one lect the presence of two fricative vowels that appear to be reflexes of the so-called super-close vowels of Proto-Bantu. Several Mambila lects are endangered, with some on the verge of extinction.},
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Mambila is a Bantoid language situated in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland. This article presents basic information as to the classification of the language, its internal variation, and its linguistic structures. Mambila is a diverse language with approximately 20 different dialects. Among its interesting characteristics is its system of four level tones, and in one lect the presence of two fricative vowels that appear to be reflexes of the so-called super-close vowels of Proto-Bantu. Several Mambila lects are endangered, with some on the verge of extinction.
Connell, Bruce
Cameroon: Language Situation Journal Article
In: Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics, 2006.
@article{Connell2006b,
title = {Cameroon: Language Situation},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/01619-9},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-12-01},
journal = {Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics},
abstract = {Bruce Connell did his undergraduate degree in Linguistics at the University of Ottawa, and an MSc in Speech Production and Perception at the University of Alberta. He then taught linguistics at the University of Calabar in Nigeria, where he became interested in African languages and cultures. A scholarship for doctoral studies took him to the University of Edinburgh. He moved from Edinburgh to Oxford, where he worked for several years as Director of the Phonetics Laboratory and University Lecturer in Phonetics, and was later Research Fellow at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology. He returned to Canada in 2001 and is currently under contract with York University's Glendon College. He has been a Research Associate at the School of African and Oriental Studies, and is an Honorary Research Fellow of the Centre for Social Anthropology and Computing, University of Kent at Canterbury. His research interests and publications include work on the phonetics of African languages, especially their tone systems, historical linguistics, the relevance of linguistics for historical inference, the relation between language and culture, and language endangerment.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Bruce Connell did his undergraduate degree in Linguistics at the University of Ottawa, and an MSc in Speech Production and Perception at the University of Alberta. He then taught linguistics at the University of Calabar in Nigeria, where he became interested in African languages and cultures. A scholarship for doctoral studies took him to the University of Edinburgh. He moved from Edinburgh to Oxford, where he worked for several years as Director of the Phonetics Laboratory and University Lecturer in Phonetics, and was later Research Fellow at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology. He returned to Canada in 2001 and is currently under contract with York University's Glendon College. He has been a Research Associate at the School of African and Oriental Studies, and is an Honorary Research Fellow of the Centre for Social Anthropology and Computing, University of Kent at Canterbury. His research interests and publications include work on the phonetics of African languages, especially their tone systems, historical linguistics, the relevance of linguistics for historical inference, the relation between language and culture, and language endangerment.
Connell, Bruce
In: Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 53-56, 2006.
@article{Connell2006bb,
title = {Peter Ladefoged. Phonetic data analysis: An introduction to fieldwork and instrumental techniques. Malden, MA: Blackwell. 2003. Pp. xi + 196. $US34.95 (softcover).},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1017/S0008413100003832},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-03-01},
journal = {Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique},
volume = {51},
number = {1},
pages = {53-56},
abstract = {Describing how people talk requires recording and analyzing phonetic data. This is true for researchers investigating the variant pronunciations of street names in Los Angeles, missionaries translating the Bible into a little-known tongue, and scholars obtaining data from a carefully controlled group in a laboratory experiment. Phonetic Data Analysis examines the procedures involved in describing the sounds of a language and illustrates the basic techniques of experimental phonetics, most of them requiring little more than a tape recorder, a video camera, and a computer. This book enables readers to work with a speaker in a classroom setting or to go out into the field and make their own discoveries about how the sounds of a language are made. Peter Ladefoged, one of the world's leading phoneticians, introduces the experimental phonetic techniques for describing the major phonetic characteristics of any language. Throughout the book there are also comments, written in a more anecdotal fashion, on Ladefoged's own fieldwork.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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}
Describing how people talk requires recording and analyzing phonetic data. This is true for researchers investigating the variant pronunciations of street names in Los Angeles, missionaries translating the Bible into a little-known tongue, and scholars obtaining data from a carefully controlled group in a laboratory experiment. Phonetic Data Analysis examines the procedures involved in describing the sounds of a language and illustrates the basic techniques of experimental phonetics, most of them requiring little more than a tape recorder, a video camera, and a computer. This book enables readers to work with a speaker in a classroom setting or to go out into the field and make their own discoveries about how the sounds of a language are made. Peter Ladefoged, one of the world's leading phoneticians, introduces the experimental phonetic techniques for describing the major phonetic characteristics of any language. Throughout the book there are also comments, written in a more anecdotal fashion, on Ladefoged's own fieldwork.
Connell, Bruce
Phonetic Data Analysis: An Introduction to Fieldwork and Instrumental Techniques (review) Journal Article
In: The Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique , vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 53-56, 2006.
@article{Connell2006bb,
title = {Phonetic Data Analysis: An Introduction to Fieldwork and Instrumental Techniques (review)},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1353/cjl.2007.0017},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-03-01},
journal = {The Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique },
volume = {51},
number = {1},
pages = {53-56},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2005
Connell, Bruce
A Speech-Language Pathologist in Southern Africa: Volunteering in Swaziland Journal Article
In: ASHA Leader , vol. 10, no. 17, pp. 16-18, 2005.
@article{Connell2005,
title = {A Speech-Language Pathologist in Southern Africa: Volunteering in Swaziland},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1044/leader.WB.10172005.16},
year = {2005},
date = {2005-12-01},
journal = {ASHA Leader },
volume = {10},
number = {17},
pages = {16-18},
abstract = {Hours after arriving in Southern Africa, I stood in the dust, waiting to be picked up from Matsapa Airport. I was beginning to feel a little nervous, but the afternoon sun was bright and I felt assured that someone would come for me eventually. Waiting was something I would get used to in Swaziland. There was no sense of urgency about time, and I found this extraordinarily relaxing.
When my ride did come, he unapologetically gave me what looked like a cooked corn on the cob out of his glove compartment, and asked me to wait in the truck while he picked up packages. As we headed to Siteki, the home base for my stay, we talked about his life, which he summed up saying, “I live in Swaziland; I was born in Swaziland; I am Swazi.”
Swaziland is a small landlocked kingdom, bordered by Mozambique and South Africa. Given the historical turbulence of its neighbors (Mozambique has endured years of civil war and South Africa is still recovering from apartheid), Swazis have tended to stay put. SiSwati, a melodical language full of alliteration, is the predominant language in Swaziland, but most people have some rudimentary English, as this is the language of formal schooling and the official language of government.
I went to Swaziland to spend six weeks as a volunteer speech-language pathologist. I had heard of the opportunity through a friend who had been doing physical therapy in the country for the past 12 months. I was to work at Good Shepherd Hospital and St. Joseph’s Mission School.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hours after arriving in Southern Africa, I stood in the dust, waiting to be picked up from Matsapa Airport. I was beginning to feel a little nervous, but the afternoon sun was bright and I felt assured that someone would come for me eventually. Waiting was something I would get used to in Swaziland. There was no sense of urgency about time, and I found this extraordinarily relaxing.
When my ride did come, he unapologetically gave me what looked like a cooked corn on the cob out of his glove compartment, and asked me to wait in the truck while he picked up packages. As we headed to Siteki, the home base for my stay, we talked about his life, which he summed up saying, “I live in Swaziland; I was born in Swaziland; I am Swazi.”
Swaziland is a small landlocked kingdom, bordered by Mozambique and South Africa. Given the historical turbulence of its neighbors (Mozambique has endured years of civil war and South Africa is still recovering from apartheid), Swazis have tended to stay put. SiSwati, a melodical language full of alliteration, is the predominant language in Swaziland, but most people have some rudimentary English, as this is the language of formal schooling and the official language of government.
I went to Swaziland to spend six weeks as a volunteer speech-language pathologist. I had heard of the opportunity through a friend who had been doing physical therapy in the country for the past 12 months. I was to work at Good Shepherd Hospital and St. Joseph’s Mission School.
When my ride did come, he unapologetically gave me what looked like a cooked corn on the cob out of his glove compartment, and asked me to wait in the truck while he picked up packages. As we headed to Siteki, the home base for my stay, we talked about his life, which he summed up saying, “I live in Swaziland; I was born in Swaziland; I am Swazi.”
Swaziland is a small landlocked kingdom, bordered by Mozambique and South Africa. Given the historical turbulence of its neighbors (Mozambique has endured years of civil war and South Africa is still recovering from apartheid), Swazis have tended to stay put. SiSwati, a melodical language full of alliteration, is the predominant language in Swaziland, but most people have some rudimentary English, as this is the language of formal schooling and the official language of government.
I went to Swaziland to spend six weeks as a volunteer speech-language pathologist. I had heard of the opportunity through a friend who had been doing physical therapy in the country for the past 12 months. I was to work at Good Shepherd Hospital and St. Joseph’s Mission School.
2004
Connell, Bruce
African Languages: An Introduction.Edited by Bernd Heine and Derek Nurse. (Book Review) Journal Article
In: African Archaeological Review, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 129-134, 2004, ISBN: 0521666295.
@article{Connell2004,
title = {African Languages: An Introduction.Edited by Bernd Heine and Derek Nurse. (Book Review)},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1023/B:AARR.0000030964.99553.89},
isbn = {0521666295},
year = {2004},
date = {2004-06-01},
journal = {African Archaeological Review},
volume = {21},
number = {2},
pages = {129-134},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Connell, Bruce; Mulcare, Charlotte A.; Weale, Michael E.; Jones, Abigail L.; Zeitlyn, David; Tarekegn, Ayele; Swallow, Dallas M.; Bradman, Neil; Thomas, Mark G.
In: The American Journal of Human Genetics, vol. 74, no. 6, pp. 1102-1110, 2004.
@article{Connell2004b,
title = {The T Allele of a Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism 13.9 kb Upstream of the Lactase Gene (LCT) (C−13.9kbT) Does Not Predict or Cause the Lactase-Persistence Phenotype in Africans},
author = {Bruce Connell and Charlotte A. Mulcare and Michael E. Weale and Abigail L. Jones and David Zeitlyn and Ayele Tarekegn and Dallas M. Swallow and Neil Bradman and Mark G. Thomas},
doi = {10.1086/421050},
year = {2004},
date = {2004-06-01},
journal = {The American Journal of Human Genetics},
volume = {74},
number = {6},
pages = {1102-1110},
abstract = {The ability to digest the milk sugar lactose as an adult (lactase persistence) is a variable genetic trait in human populations. The lactase-persistence phenotype is found at low frequencies in the majority of populations in sub-Saharan Africa that have been tested, but, in some populations, particularly pastoral groups, it is significantly more frequent. Recently, a CT polymorphism located 13.9 kb upstream of exon 1 of the lactase gene (LCT) was shown in a Finnish population to be closely associated with the lactase-persistence phenotype (Enattah et al. 2002). We typed this polymorphism in 1,671 individuals from 20 distinct cultural groups in seven African countries. It was possible to match seven of the groups tested with groups from the literature for whom phenotypic information is available. In five of these groups, the published frequencies of lactase persistence are >/=25%. We found the T allele to be so rare that it cannot explain the frequency of the lactase-persistence phenotype throughout Africa. By use of a statistical procedure to take phenotyping and sampling errors into account, the T-allele frequency was shown to be significantly different from that predicted in five of the African groups. Only the Fulbe and Hausa from Cameroon possessed the T allele at a level consistent with phenotypic observations (as well as an Irish sample used for comparison). We conclude that the C-13.9kbT polymorphism is not a predictor of lactase persistence in sub-Saharan Africans. We also present Y-chromosome data that are consistent with previously reported evidence for a back-migration event into Cameroon, and we comment on the implications for the introgression of the -13.9kb*T allele},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The ability to digest the milk sugar lactose as an adult (lactase persistence) is a variable genetic trait in human populations. The lactase-persistence phenotype is found at low frequencies in the majority of populations in sub-Saharan Africa that have been tested, but, in some populations, particularly pastoral groups, it is significantly more frequent. Recently, a CT polymorphism located 13.9 kb upstream of exon 1 of the lactase gene (LCT) was shown in a Finnish population to be closely associated with the lactase-persistence phenotype (Enattah et al. 2002). We typed this polymorphism in 1,671 individuals from 20 distinct cultural groups in seven African countries. It was possible to match seven of the groups tested with groups from the literature for whom phenotypic information is available. In five of these groups, the published frequencies of lactase persistence are >/=25%. We found the T allele to be so rare that it cannot explain the frequency of the lactase-persistence phenotype throughout Africa. By use of a statistical procedure to take phenotyping and sampling errors into account, the T-allele frequency was shown to be significantly different from that predicted in five of the African groups. Only the Fulbe and Hausa from Cameroon possessed the T allele at a level consistent with phenotypic observations (as well as an Irish sample used for comparison). We conclude that the C-13.9kbT polymorphism is not a predictor of lactase persistence in sub-Saharan Africans. We also present Y-chromosome data that are consistent with previously reported evidence for a back-migration event into Cameroon, and we comment on the implications for the introgression of the -13.9kb*T allele
Connell, Bruce
Tone, Utterance Length and F0 Scaling Journal Article
In: Proceedings of the international symposium on tonal aspects of languages: With emphasis on tone languages, 2004, ISBN: 1-876346-48-5.
@article{Connell2004bb,
title = {Tone, Utterance Length and F0 Scaling},
author = {Bruce Connell},
isbn = {1-876346-48-5},
year = {2004},
date = {2004-01-01},
journal = {Proceedings of the international symposium on tonal aspects of languages: With emphasis on tone languages},
abstract = {One important strand of research into the scaling of fundamental frequency has been concerned with the hypothesis that utterance length is a determining factor of initial pitch height, with longer utterances involving a higher initial F0 than that found in shorter utterances. Most work in this vein has been done on 'intonation' languages, with very little investigation having been carried out on tone languages, and the effect utterance length might have on the scaling of tones. This study investigates the relationship between utterance length and tone in Mambila. Previous work revealed that, for sentences comprised of all High tones, or of all Low tones, utterance length in Mambila had no effect on the scaling of either initial or final tones. Here utterances of alternating Hs and Ls are investigated. Results confirm those found earlier, that utterance does not determine the scaling of F0 in Mambila. These results are discussed from the point of view of utterance planning and tonal specification.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
One important strand of research into the scaling of fundamental frequency has been concerned with the hypothesis that utterance length is a determining factor of initial pitch height, with longer utterances involving a higher initial F0 than that found in shorter utterances. Most work in this vein has been done on 'intonation' languages, with very little investigation having been carried out on tone languages, and the effect utterance length might have on the scaling of tones. This study investigates the relationship between utterance length and tone in Mambila. Previous work revealed that, for sentences comprised of all High tones, or of all Low tones, utterance length in Mambila had no effect on the scaling of either initial or final tones. Here utterances of alternating Hs and Ls are investigated. Results confirm those found earlier, that utterance does not determine the scaling of F0 in Mambila. These results are discussed from the point of view of utterance planning and tonal specification.
2003
Connell, Bruce; Weale, Michael E; Shah, Tina; Jones, Abigail L; Greenhalgh, John; Wilson, James F; Nymadawa, Pagbajabyn; Zeitlin, David; Bradman, Neil; Thomas, Mark G
Rare Deep-Rooting Y Chromosome Lineages in Humans: Lessons for Phylogeography Journal Article
In: Genetics, vol. 165, no. 1, pp. 229-234, 2003.
@article{Connell2003,
title = {Rare Deep-Rooting Y Chromosome Lineages in Humans: Lessons for Phylogeography},
author = {Bruce Connell and Michael E Weale and Tina Shah and Abigail L Jones and John Greenhalgh and James F Wilson and Pagbajabyn Nymadawa and David Zeitlin and Neil Bradman and Mark G Thomas},
doi = {10.1093/genetics/165.1.229},
year = {2003},
date = {2003-09-01},
journal = {Genetics},
volume = {165},
number = {1},
pages = {229-234},
abstract = {There has been considerable debate on the geographic origin of the human Y chromosome Alu polymorphism (YAP). Here we report a new, very rare deep-rooting haplogroup within the YAP clade, together with data on other deep-rooting YAP clades. The new haplogroup, found so far in only five Nigerians, is the least-derived YAP haplogroup according to currently known binary markers. However, because the interior branching order of the Y chromosome genealogical tree remains unknown, it is impossible to impute the origin of the YAP clade with certainty. We discuss the problems presented by rare deep-rooting lineages for Y chromosome phylogeography.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
There has been considerable debate on the geographic origin of the human Y chromosome Alu polymorphism (YAP). Here we report a new, very rare deep-rooting haplogroup within the YAP clade, together with data on other deep-rooting YAP clades. The new haplogroup, found so far in only five Nigerians, is the least-derived YAP haplogroup according to currently known binary markers. However, because the interior branching order of the Y chromosome genealogical tree remains unknown, it is impossible to impute the origin of the YAP clade with certainty. We discuss the problems presented by rare deep-rooting lineages for Y chromosome phylogeography.
Connell, Bruce; Zeitlyn, David
Ethnogenesis and fractal history on an African frontier: Mambila-Njerep-Mandulu Journal Article
In: The Journal of African History, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 117 - 138, 2003.
@article{Connell2003b,
title = {Ethnogenesis and fractal history on an African frontier: Mambila-Njerep-Mandulu},
author = {Bruce Connell and David Zeitlyn },
doi = {10.1017/S002185370200823X},
year = {2003},
date = {2003-03-01},
journal = {The Journal of African History},
volume = {44},
number = {1},
pages = {117 - 138},
abstract = {This paper explores the notion of fractals – structures that display a similar degree of complexity at whatever scale they may be viewed – in relation to investigating African history. A case study of developing ethnicities in the Mambila region of the Nigeria–Cameroon borderland is presented from a fractal perspective: five levels of the history of this region, covering different time, population and physical scales, as well as different objects of explanation for each, are explored. Our general conclusion is that the different scales, or levels, at which one may view history may contain features or imply generalizations that mask features found in, or generalizations implied by, other levels.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper explores the notion of fractals – structures that display a similar degree of complexity at whatever scale they may be viewed – in relation to investigating African history. A case study of developing ethnicities in the Mambila region of the Nigeria–Cameroon borderland is presented from a fractal perspective: five levels of the history of this region, covering different time, population and physical scales, as well as different objects of explanation for each, are explored. Our general conclusion is that the different scales, or levels, at which one may view history may contain features or imply generalizations that mask features found in, or generalizations implied by, other levels.
2002
Connell, Bruce; Ahoua, Firmin; Gibbon, Dafydd
Ega Journal Article
In: Journal of the International Phonetic Association, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 99 - 104, 2002.
@article{Connell2002,
title = {Ega},
author = {Bruce Connell and Firmin Ahoua and Dafydd Gibbon
},
doi = {10.1017/S002510030200018X},
year = {2002},
date = {2002-06-01},
journal = {Journal of the International Phonetic Association},
volume = {32},
number = {1},
pages = {99 - 104},
abstract = {Ega is an endangered language spoken in the south-central region of Côte d'Ivoire, in Divo Department. The precise number of speakers is not known at present; the 14th Ethnologue (Grimes 2000) reports 291 to 3,000, and notes that ‘the ethnic group is growing, but they are shifting to the Dida language because of intermarriage and other influences’. Our own preliminary and impressionistic work suggests the number of Ega speakers to be closer to the upper end of this range, perhaps around 2,000, but we note that Ega now serves a decreasing number of sociolinguistic functions, to the extent that in at least some villages Dida has replaced Ega as the primary language of daily use. It is also clear that the degree of intergenerational transmission is low in many, if not all, Ega villages.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Ega is an endangered language spoken in the south-central region of Côte d'Ivoire, in Divo Department. The precise number of speakers is not known at present; the 14th Ethnologue (Grimes 2000) reports 291 to 3,000, and notes that ‘the ethnic group is growing, but they are shifting to the Dida language because of intermarriage and other influences’. Our own preliminary and impressionistic work suggests the number of Ega speakers to be closer to the upper end of this range, perhaps around 2,000, but we note that Ega now serves a decreasing number of sociolinguistic functions, to the extent that in at least some villages Dida has replaced Ega as the primary language of daily use. It is also clear that the degree of intergenerational transmission is low in many, if not all, Ega villages.
Connell, Bruce
Tone languages and the universality of intrinsic FO: Evidence from Africa Journal Article
In: Journal of Phonetics, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 101-129, 2002.
@article{Connell2002b,
title = {Tone languages and the universality of intrinsic FO: Evidence from Africa},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {2002},
date = {2002-01-31},
journal = {Journal of Phonetics},
volume = {30},
number = {1},
pages = {101-129},
abstract = {A correlation between vowel height and fundamental frequency, whereby high vowels have higher F 0 than low vowels, is said to be universal. The available evidence suggests that this intrinsic F 0 (IF0) extends even to tone languages, which might be expected to control or constrain F 0. Little work, however, has been done on IF0 in tone languages of Africa, where the tone systems are in certain respects more complex than those found elsewhere. This paper presents new research on four African tone languages which permits several questions concerning IF0 in these languages to be addressed. The central question, whether tone inventory size is a constraining factor on IF0, presupposes that IF0 does indeed exist in tone languages. Reports in the literature that IF0 is reduced or neutralized for Low tone suggest that there may be an IF0 gradient with respect to tone height. Results confirm the existence of IF0 for three of the four languages studied, but also suggest that it may be constrained in some tone languages. Tone inventory size alone, however, does not account for this; rather, the nature of the tone system, and in particular the degree of F 0 modulation used in producing tonal contrasts appears to the primary factor. While IF0 is generally reduced for Low tone, not all of these four languages show the postulated gradient. This finding fits with research suggesting that a different physiological mechanism may be associated with the production of low rangeF 0.},
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A correlation between vowel height and fundamental frequency, whereby high vowels have higher F 0 than low vowels, is said to be universal. The available evidence suggests that this intrinsic F 0 (IF0) extends even to tone languages, which might be expected to control or constrain F 0. Little work, however, has been done on IF0 in tone languages of Africa, where the tone systems are in certain respects more complex than those found elsewhere. This paper presents new research on four African tone languages which permits several questions concerning IF0 in these languages to be addressed. The central question, whether tone inventory size is a constraining factor on IF0, presupposes that IF0 does indeed exist in tone languages. Reports in the literature that IF0 is reduced or neutralized for Low tone suggest that there may be an IF0 gradient with respect to tone height. Results confirm the existence of IF0 for three of the four languages studied, but also suggest that it may be constrained in some tone languages. Tone inventory size alone, however, does not account for this; rather, the nature of the tone system, and in particular the degree of F 0 modulation used in producing tonal contrasts appears to the primary factor. While IF0 is generally reduced for Low tone, not all of these four languages show the postulated gradient. This finding fits with research suggesting that a different physiological mechanism may be associated with the production of low rangeF 0.
Connell, Bruce
Phonetic/phonological variation and language contraction Journal Article
In: International Journal of the Sociology of Language , vol. 2002, no. 157, pp. 167-185, 2002.
@article{Connell2002bb,
title = {Phonetic/phonological variation and language contraction},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1515/ijsl.2002.038},
year = {2002},
date = {2002-01-11},
journal = {International Journal of the Sociology of Language },
volume = {2002},
number = {157},
pages = {167-185},
abstract = {Language contraction leading to language death is reported to have associated with it increased variation at different linguistic levels, including phonetics and phonology. This variation has been attributed not to influence from the ascendant language, but rather to lack of performance and a relaxation of sociolinguistic norms. This paper examines a contracting language, Cambap, now spoken by fewer than 35 people, to assess the claims concerning increased variation. The speech characteristics of seven native speakers of Cambap are examined. It is found that variation in phonetics and phonology not attributable to the influence of the dominant language does indeed exist, but lack of performance is rejected as a possible cause. Evidence for a more general view of the notion of "relaxed sociolinguistic norms" is presented, suggesting that the increased variation frequently observed in such cases is not a phenomenon intrinsic to the process of language contraction and death but rather may be characteristic of small and relatively isolated language communities.},
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Language contraction leading to language death is reported to have associated with it increased variation at different linguistic levels, including phonetics and phonology. This variation has been attributed not to influence from the ascendant language, but rather to lack of performance and a relaxation of sociolinguistic norms. This paper examines a contracting language, Cambap, now spoken by fewer than 35 people, to assess the claims concerning increased variation. The speech characteristics of seven native speakers of Cambap are examined. It is found that variation in phonetics and phonology not attributable to the influence of the dominant language does indeed exist, but lack of performance is rejected as a possible cause. Evidence for a more general view of the notion of "relaxed sociolinguistic norms" is presented, suggesting that the increased variation frequently observed in such cases is not a phenomenon intrinsic to the process of language contraction and death but rather may be characteristic of small and relatively isolated language communities.
Connell, Bruce
Aspects of the phonetics of Cambap Journal Article
In: Studies in African Linguistics, vol. 31, no. 1 & 2, 2002.
@article{Connell2002bb,
title = {Aspects of the phonetics of Cambap},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {2002},
date = {2002-01-01},
journal = {Studies in African Linguistics},
volume = {31},
number = {1 & 2},
abstract = {Increasingly, the need to document endangered languages before they cease to be spoken and disappear is being recognized. Corresponding acknowledgement of the importance of detailed descriptions of the phonetics of such languages, however, is lagging behind. This study examines the phonetics of Cambap, a Bantoid language spoken in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland by approximately 30 people. The focus is on describing how its phonological contrasts are realized, and as such this study represents only a stage in a more complete description of Cambap phonetics, their relation to the phonology of Cambap and to more general aspects of the language and culture of the Camba.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Increasingly, the need to document endangered languages before they cease to be spoken and disappear is being recognized. Corresponding acknowledgement of the importance of detailed descriptions of the phonetics of such languages, however, is lagging behind. This study examines the phonetics of Cambap, a Bantoid language spoken in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland by approximately 30 people. The focus is on describing how its phonological contrasts are realized, and as such this study represents only a stage in a more complete description of Cambap phonetics, their relation to the phonology of Cambap and to more general aspects of the language and culture of the Camba.
2000
Connell, Bruce
The Perception of Lexical Tone in Mambila Journal Article
In: Language and Speech, vol. 43, no. part 2, pp. 163-182, 2000.
@article{Connell2000,
title = {The Perception of Lexical Tone in Mambila},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1177/00238309000430020201},
year = {2000},
date = {2000-06-01},
journal = {Language and Speech},
volume = {43},
number = {part 2},
pages = {163-182},
abstract = {The issue of the perception of lexical tone has been addressed mainly through studies of Southeast Asian languages which feature phonological contour tones as well as level tones. Little attention has been paid to African languages which have, almost exclusively, only level tones. This paper examines tone perception in Mambila, a Benue-Congo language with four level lexical tones. A categorization experiment was run to determine some of the salient aspects of the perceptual nature of these tones. Since the four tones are well defined with respect to production, we sought to determine whether this characteristic carried over into perception, the expectation being that experimental stimuli, on the basis of pitch height alone, would fall into four reasonably well defined categories. Results showed interesting differences across the four tones, with indications that the two Mid tones, T2 and T3, are perceptually different than the High (T1) and Low (T4) tones. The experiment was run a second time, using a group of native English listeners, to assess to what extent results for the Mambila listeners were determined by the perceptual structure of the Mambila tone system. A Signal Detection analysis was used, which revealed important differences between the two groups of listeners. Results are discussed in light of what is known about universal tendencies of tone systems and the historical development of the Mambila system.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The issue of the perception of lexical tone has been addressed mainly through studies of Southeast Asian languages which feature phonological contour tones as well as level tones. Little attention has been paid to African languages which have, almost exclusively, only level tones. This paper examines tone perception in Mambila, a Benue-Congo language with four level lexical tones. A categorization experiment was run to determine some of the salient aspects of the perceptual nature of these tones. Since the four tones are well defined with respect to production, we sought to determine whether this characteristic carried over into perception, the expectation being that experimental stimuli, on the basis of pitch height alone, would fall into four reasonably well defined categories. Results showed interesting differences across the four tones, with indications that the two Mid tones, T2 and T3, are perceptually different than the High (T1) and Low (T4) tones. The experiment was run a second time, using a group of native English listeners, to assess to what extent results for the Mambila listeners were determined by the perceptual structure of the Mambila tone system. A Signal Detection analysis was used, which revealed important differences between the two groups of listeners. Results are discussed in light of what is known about universal tendencies of tone systems and the historical development of the Mambila system.
Connell, Bruce; Ashkaba, J. A.; Hayward, R. J.
Observations on Kunama Tone (Barka Dialect) Journal Article
In: Studies in African Linguistics , vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 1-41, 2000.
@article{Connell2000b,
title = {Observations on Kunama Tone (Barka Dialect)},
author = {Bruce Connell and J.A. Ashkaba and R.J. Hayward},
year = {2000},
date = {2000-01-01},
journal = {Studies in African Linguistics },
volume = {29},
number = {1},
pages = {1-41},
abstract = {Kunama has been reported by different scholars as having two or three tones, downstep (or not), contrastive length of both consonants and vowels, and lexical stress. Despite this range of reported phenomena, little in-depth research into the prosodic system of Kunama has been undertaken. The aim of the present study is to report such a detailed investigation and to establish on a solid footing basic aspects of the tonal system of Kunama. The work reported is preliminary in the sense that its scope is limited: we present phonological and phonetic evidence for the existence of three level tones, which can combine to form a number of contour tones. This is followed by discussion of tonal phenomena in the noun phrase. No evidence for lexical stress is found. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Kunama has been reported by different scholars as having two or three tones, downstep (or not), contrastive length of both consonants and vowels, and lexical stress. Despite this range of reported phenomena, little in-depth research into the prosodic system of Kunama has been undertaken. The aim of the present study is to report such a detailed investigation and to establish on a solid footing basic aspects of the tonal system of Kunama. The work reported is preliminary in the sense that its scope is limited: we present phonological and phonetic evidence for the existence of three level tones, which can combine to form a number of contour tones. This is followed by discussion of tonal phenomena in the noun phrase. No evidence for lexical stress is found.
Connell, Bruce; Zeitlyn, David
Njerep: a postcard from the edge Journal Article
In: Studies in African Linguistics, vol. 29, no. 1, 2000.
@article{Connell2000bb,
title = {Njerep: a postcard from the edge},
author = {Bruce Connell and David Zeitlyn},
year = {2000},
date = {2000-01-01},
journal = { Studies in African Linguistics},
volume = {29},
number = {1},
abstract = {Njerep is a language on the edge of extinction. It is no longer spoken on a regular basis, nor is it even known well by anyone speaker. There are now, in fact, only five people who remember the language well enough to produce fragments of speech or who remember songs in the language. Our aim in this paper is to document the language to the extent possible. We have collected a wordlist of the language, a number of songs and other bits of text which, fragmentary though they are, permit some insights into the structure of the language, its genetic affiliation and its former importance in the region. Since we view language as a cultural artifact intimately connected to both the culture and the history of its speakers, the paper begins with a brief discussion of Njerep ethnography and history. We then look at evidence for the genetic affiliation of Njerep, and follow this with a description of its structural characteristics. Appendices are included which contain the Njerep wordlist, transcriptions of songs and, finally, genealogical information on the remaining speakers, which gives some insight into the sociological aspect of language contraction.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Njerep is a language on the edge of extinction. It is no longer spoken on a regular basis, nor is it even known well by anyone speaker. There are now, in fact, only five people who remember the language well enough to produce fragments of speech or who remember songs in the language. Our aim in this paper is to document the language to the extent possible. We have collected a wordlist of the language, a number of songs and other bits of text which, fragmentary though they are, permit some insights into the structure of the language, its genetic affiliation and its former importance in the region. Since we view language as a cultural artifact intimately connected to both the culture and the history of its speakers, the paper begins with a brief discussion of Njerep ethnography and history. We then look at evidence for the genetic affiliation of Njerep, and follow this with a description of its structural characteristics. Appendices are included which contain the Njerep wordlist, transcriptions of songs and, finally, genealogical information on the remaining speakers, which gives some insight into the sociological aspect of language contraction.
1999
Connell, Bruce
In: Canadian Journal of Linguistics, vol. 44, no. 01, pp. 53-55, 1999.
@article{Connell1999,
title = {Peter Ladefoged. Elements of Acoustic Phonetics, 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1996. Pp. viii + 216. US$39.95 (hardcover), $14.95 (softcover).},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1017/S0008413100020739},
year = {1999},
date = {1999-03-01},
journal = {Canadian Journal of Linguistics},
volume = {44},
number = {01},
pages = {53-55},
abstract = {The Canadian Journal of Linguistics publishes articles of original research in linguistics in both English and French. The articles deal with linguistic theory, linguistic description of natural languages, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, first and second language acquisition, and other areas of interest to linguists.
La Revue canadienne de linguistique publie des articles portant sur des recherches originales en français et en anglais. Ces articles traitent de divers sujets d'intérêt pour les linguistes, tels que : théorie linguistique, description linguistique de diverses langues naturelles, phonétique, phonologie, morphologie, syntaxe, sémantique, linguistique historique, sociolinguistique, psycholinguistique, acquisition d'une langue maternelle et d'une langue seconde.},
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The Canadian Journal of Linguistics publishes articles of original research in linguistics in both English and French. The articles deal with linguistic theory, linguistic description of natural languages, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, first and second language acquisition, and other areas of interest to linguists.
La Revue canadienne de linguistique publie des articles portant sur des recherches originales en français et en anglais. Ces articles traitent de divers sujets d'intérêt pour les linguistes, tels que : théorie linguistique, description linguistique de diverses langues naturelles, phonétique, phonologie, morphologie, syntaxe, sémantique, linguistique historique, sociolinguistique, psycholinguistique, acquisition d'une langue maternelle et d'une langue seconde.
La Revue canadienne de linguistique publie des articles portant sur des recherches originales en français et en anglais. Ces articles traitent de divers sujets d'intérêt pour les linguistes, tels que : théorie linguistique, description linguistique de diverses langues naturelles, phonétique, phonologie, morphologie, syntaxe, sémantique, linguistique historique, sociolinguistique, psycholinguistique, acquisition d'une langue maternelle et d'une langue seconde.
1997
Connell, Bruce; Frisch, Stefan A.; Arvaniti, Amalia
Phonology and Phonetic Evidence: Papers in Laboratory Phonology IV Journal Article
In: Language , vol. 73, no. 4, pp. 908, 1997, ISBN: 9780521482592.
@article{Connell1997,
title = {Phonology and Phonetic Evidence: Papers in Laboratory Phonology IV},
author = {Bruce Connell and Stefan A. Frisch and Amalia Arvaniti},
doi = {10.2307/417385},
isbn = {9780521482592},
year = {1997},
date = {1997-12-01},
journal = {Language },
volume = {73},
number = {4},
pages = {908},
abstract = {The work published in Phonology and Phonetic Evidence presents an integrated phonetics-phonology approach in what has now become an established field, laboratory phonology. The volume is divided into three sections. Part I deals with the status and role of features in phonological representations; Part II, on prosody, contains, amongst others, two papers which present for the first time detailed acoustic and perceptual evidence on the rhythm rule; and Part III, on articulatory organisation, includes several papers which from different perspectives test hypotheses derived from articulatory phonology, thereby testifying to the great influence this theory has exerted in recent years. This, the fourth in the series of Papers in Laboratory Phonology, will be welcomed by all those interested in phonetics, phonology and their interface.},
keywords = {},
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The work published in Phonology and Phonetic Evidence presents an integrated phonetics-phonology approach in what has now become an established field, laboratory phonology. The volume is divided into three sections. Part I deals with the status and role of features in phonological representations; Part II, on prosody, contains, amongst others, two papers which present for the first time detailed acoustic and perceptual evidence on the rhythm rule; and Part III, on articulatory organisation, includes several papers which from different perspectives test hypotheses derived from articulatory phonology, thereby testifying to the great influence this theory has exerted in recent years. This, the fourth in the series of Papers in Laboratory Phonology, will be welcomed by all those interested in phonetics, phonology and their interface.
Connell, Bruce
Moribund languages of the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland Journal Article
In: Symposium on Language Endangerment in Africa Leipzig, 1997.
@article{Connell1997b,
title = {Moribund languages of the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {1997},
date = {1997-08-29},
journal = {Symposium on Language Endangerment in Africa Leipzig},
abstract = {Nigeria and Cameroon are recognized as being the two most linguistically heterogeneous countries in Africa; indeed with 700 - 800 languages between them (roughly 12% of the world's languages), they constitute one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world, despite having well below 1% of the world's population. The borderland shared by these countries is perhaps their most densely populated area, linguistically speaking. It might come as no surprise then that today we find this to be region with a relatively high incidence of language endangerment. Figures gleaned from Grimes (1996), supplemented by information from Crozier and Blench (1992) and my own field notes help to confirm this supposition. For a number of reasons, however, these figures must be treated as offering an impression only, rather than hard fact. First, I have arbitrarily chosen a cut-off point of approximately 1,000 speakers as being the `endangered' marker; yet it is not all that difficult to find
languages with fewer than 1,000 speakers that are relatively vital (at least according to their speakers), nor, on the other hand, is it difficult to find
languages with well over 1,000 speakers that might be considered to be endangered, or dying out. Second, censuses in both Nigeria and
Cameroon are frequently flawed, for a variety of reasons. And third, for a great many languages no population estimates are available.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Nigeria and Cameroon are recognized as being the two most linguistically heterogeneous countries in Africa; indeed with 700 - 800 languages between them (roughly 12% of the world's languages), they constitute one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world, despite having well below 1% of the world's population. The borderland shared by these countries is perhaps their most densely populated area, linguistically speaking. It might come as no surprise then that today we find this to be region with a relatively high incidence of language endangerment. Figures gleaned from Grimes (1996), supplemented by information from Crozier and Blench (1992) and my own field notes help to confirm this supposition. For a number of reasons, however, these figures must be treated as offering an impression only, rather than hard fact. First, I have arbitrarily chosen a cut-off point of approximately 1,000 speakers as being the `endangered' marker; yet it is not all that difficult to find
languages with fewer than 1,000 speakers that are relatively vital (at least according to their speakers), nor, on the other hand, is it difficult to find
languages with well over 1,000 speakers that might be considered to be endangered, or dying out. Second, censuses in both Nigeria and
Cameroon are frequently flawed, for a variety of reasons. And third, for a great many languages no population estimates are available.
languages with fewer than 1,000 speakers that are relatively vital (at least according to their speakers), nor, on the other hand, is it difficult to find
languages with well over 1,000 speakers that might be considered to be endangered, or dying out. Second, censuses in both Nigeria and
Cameroon are frequently flawed, for a variety of reasons. And third, for a great many languages no population estimates are available.
1996
Connell, Bruce
In: Canadian Journal of Linguistics, vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 378-381, 1996.
@article{Connell1996,
title = {Neil Smith and Ianthi-Maria Tsimpli. The Mind of a Savant: Language Learning and Modularity. Oxford: Blackwell. 1995. Pp. xviii + 243. US$49.95 (hardcover).},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1017/S0008413100016637},
year = {1996},
date = {1996-12-01},
journal = {Canadian Journal of Linguistics},
volume = {41},
number = {4},
pages = {378-381},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
1995
Connell, Bruce
The historical development of Lower Cross consonants Journal Article
In: Journal of African Languages and Linguistics, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 41-70, 1995.
@article{Connell1995,
title = {The historical development of Lower Cross consonants},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1515/jall.1995.16.1.41},
year = {1995},
date = {1995-01-01},
journal = {Journal of African Languages and Linguistics},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {41-70},
abstract = {This paper presents a reconstruction of the consonant System of Proto-Lower Cross and examines the development of this parent System into those of the various present-day Lower Cross languages. The methodology used deviates somewhat from tradition in that greater attention tophonetic detail than usual is employed, following theprinciple that reconstructions should be constrained by thephonetic evidence to hand and comparison is made with related forms from outside the group. Questions of particular interest that are examined include the development of the nasal series, the reconstruction of Proto-Lower Cross *1, developments involving labio-velars, and the implications of the absence of afortis-lenis contrast in Lower Cross. Finally, the implications of the development of Lower Cross consonants for sub-grouping within Lower Cross are discussed.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper presents a reconstruction of the consonant System of Proto-Lower Cross and examines the development of this parent System into those of the various present-day Lower Cross languages. The methodology used deviates somewhat from tradition in that greater attention tophonetic detail than usual is employed, following theprinciple that reconstructions should be constrained by thephonetic evidence to hand and comparison is made with related forms from outside the group. Questions of particular interest that are examined include the development of the nasal series, the reconstruction of Proto-Lower Cross *1, developments involving labio-velars, and the implications of the absence of afortis-lenis contrast in Lower Cross. Finally, the implications of the development of Lower Cross consonants for sub-grouping within Lower Cross are discussed.
1994
Connell, Bruce
The Structure of Labial-Velar Stops Journal Article
In: Journal of Phonetics, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 441-476, 1994.
@article{Connell1994,
title = {The Structure of Labial-Velar Stops},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {1994},
date = {1994-10-01},
journal = {Journal of Phonetics},
volume = {22},
number = {4},
pages = {441-476},
abstract = {Studies of the phonetics of labial-velar stops are few, and have for the most part been based on one or two speakers. In an attempt to fill this gap, this paper examines the labial-velar stops of five Nigerian languages (Ibibio, Igbo, Kalahari, Kana, and Obolo). Multiple speakers are used for one of these (Ibibio), and a variety of instrumental techniques are employed. Some discussion of the implictions of the phonetic structure of these stops for their phonological characterization is offered along with consideration of their diachronic behaviour. The phonetic characteristics reported suggest the need for a reconsideration of how these stops are represented in current phonological theory, and also allow insight into their historical developments. By the same token, hypotheses as to the diachronic appearance of labial-velars suggest an understanding as to why they exhibit their particular characteristics.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Studies of the phonetics of labial-velar stops are few, and have for the most part been based on one or two speakers. In an attempt to fill this gap, this paper examines the labial-velar stops of five Nigerian languages (Ibibio, Igbo, Kalahari, Kana, and Obolo). Multiple speakers are used for one of these (Ibibio), and a variety of instrumental techniques are employed. Some discussion of the implictions of the phonetic structure of these stops for their phonological characterization is offered along with consideration of their diachronic behaviour. The phonetic characteristics reported suggest the need for a reconsideration of how these stops are represented in current phonological theory, and also allow insight into their historical developments. By the same token, hypotheses as to the diachronic appearance of labial-velars suggest an understanding as to why they exhibit their particular characteristics.
Connell, Bruce
In: Phonology, vol. 11, no. 1, 1994.
@article{Connell1994b,
title = {John Clark & Colin Yallop (1990). An introduction to phonetics and Phonology. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Pp. xiv + 400 (incl. two appendices and an index)},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1017/S0952675700001901},
year = {1994},
date = {1994-05-01},
journal = {Phonology},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
abstract = {Phonology is the only journal devoted to all aspects of the discipline, and provides a unique forum for the productive interchange of ideas among phonologists and those working in related disciplines. Preference is given to papers which make a substantial theoretical contribution, irrespective of the particular theoretical framework employed, but the submission of papers presenting new empirical data of general theoretical interest is also encouraged. The journal publishes quarterly and carries research articles, as well as book reviews and shorter pieces on topics of current controversy within phonology.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Phonology is the only journal devoted to all aspects of the discipline, and provides a unique forum for the productive interchange of ideas among phonologists and those working in related disciplines. Preference is given to papers which make a substantial theoretical contribution, irrespective of the particular theoretical framework employed, but the submission of papers presenting new empirical data of general theoretical interest is also encouraged. The journal publishes quarterly and carries research articles, as well as book reviews and shorter pieces on topics of current controversy within phonology.
1992
Connell, Bruce
Tongue contact, active articulators, and coarticulation Book Chapter
In: pp. 13-16, 1992.
@inbook{Connell1992,
title = {Tongue contact, active articulators, and coarticulation},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {1992},
date = {1992-01-01},
pages = {13-16},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
1991
Connell, Bruce; Hajek, John
Universals of Nasal Attrition Conference
vol. 5, 1991.
@conference{Connell1991,
title = {Universals of Nasal Attrition},
author = {Bruce Connell and John Hajek},
year = {1991},
date = {1991-01-01},
volume = {5},
pages = {106-109},
abstract = {The claim that there is a hierarchy governing the attrition of nasals according to place of articulation is put to test in this paper by examination of cross linguistic data from two language groups which are unrelated genetically and geographically: the Romance dialects of Northern Italy and the Lower Cross group of South- Eastern Nigeria. Results of this new survey provide interesting food for thought: developments in the Northern Italian dialects support, to a large extent, predictions that follow from phonetic considerations. However, the Lower Cross languages at first appear to contradict expectations. This suggests that other factors may need to be taken account of, before a true universal tendency, if one exists, can be established},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
The claim that there is a hierarchy governing the attrition of nasals according to place of articulation is put to test in this paper by examination of cross linguistic data from two language groups which are unrelated genetically and geographically: the Romance dialects of Northern Italy and the Lower Cross group of South- Eastern Nigeria. Results of this new survey provide interesting food for thought: developments in the Northern Italian dialects support, to a large extent, predictions that follow from phonetic considerations. However, the Lower Cross languages at first appear to contradict expectations. This suggests that other factors may need to be taken account of, before a true universal tendency, if one exists, can be established
Connell, Bruce
Phonetic aspects of the Lower Cross languages and their implications for sound change Miscellaneous
1991.
@misc{Connell1991b,
title = {Phonetic aspects of the Lower Cross languages and their implications for sound change},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {1991},
date = {1991-01-01},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {misc}
}
1990
Connell, Bruce
Aspects of pitch realisation in Yoruba Journal Article
In: Phonology 7(1):1 - 29, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 1 - 29, 1990.
@article{Connell1990,
title = {Aspects of pitch realisation in Yoruba},
author = {Bruce Connell},
doi = {10.1017/S095267570000110X},
year = {1990},
date = {1990-05-01},
journal = {Phonology 7(1):1 - 29},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {1 - 29},
abstract = {A great many languages of the world exhibit phenomena of FO DOWNTREND – phenomena whereby, other things being equal, the fundamental frequency (Fo) of the speaking voice declines over the course of an utterance. That much is uncontroversial; further details are either simply unknown or the subject of considerable debate. The purpose of the study reported here was to shed light on some of these unknown or uncertain matters by the controlled investigation of pitch realisation in Yoruba.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A great many languages of the world exhibit phenomena of FO DOWNTREND – phenomena whereby, other things being equal, the fundamental frequency (Fo) of the speaking voice declines over the course of an utterance. That much is uncontroversial; further details are either simply unknown or the subject of considerable debate. The purpose of the study reported here was to shed light on some of these unknown or uncertain matters by the controlled investigation of pitch realisation in Yoruba.
1988
Connell, Bruce
Speech and song melody in Mambila Journal Article
In: Africa, vol. 582, pp. 127-146, 1988.
@article{Connell1988,
title = {Speech and song melody in Mambila},
author = {Bruce Connell},
year = {1988},
date = {1988-01-01},
journal = {Africa},
volume = {582},
pages = {127-146},
abstract = {The phonetic and phonological factors governing the realization of linguistic tone in speech have for some years been the focus of study by number of scholars and covering both tonal and non-tonal languages. While the basic effects of such factors as declination, downdrift, and downstep, among other influences, are now reasonably well understood, it is nevertheless fair to say that considerable work yet remains to be done in this area. There is also increasing interest in the relation between language and music. This issue has been approached from different perspectives, ranging from the neuropsychological to the structural. A number of studies involving tone languages have focussed on the relation between speech melody and song melody, with a basic assumption being that, presumably in order to maintain comprehensibility, song melody is subservient to that of speech (e.g. Jones, 1959). Blacking (1967) shows that in certain forms of Venda song, but not all, this is indeed the case. Leben (1983) argues that a more sophisticated analysis, one that takes into account downtrends as well as lexical tone is necessary to understand the relation between tone and tune in Hausa, and Agawu (1988) has challenge the general view arguing that, at least in Ewe, music is much less constrained by speech than studies on other languages have suggested. Mambila, a Bantoid language with four level lexical tones, presents an excellent test case for exploring the possible effects of song on linguistic tone. A number of phonetic studies of have been conducted which have revealed that pitch realization in this language appears tightly constrained, and it has been argued that this suggests F0 values for individual tones in Mambila are fairly narrowly specified. The present study focusses on pitch realization in a Mambila beer song, as performed by a native speaker of Mambila who was also a participant in several phonetic studies. The paper presents an initial view of the interaction between speech melody and song melody in Mambila through comparison of his productions in speech and song, with respect to overall pitch range used, scaling of individual tones, and the influence of adjacent tones on each other. The results of the investigation, more than simply of interest in their own right, in contributing to the debate outlined above also allow for more general conclusions to be drawn concerning the relation between language and music.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The phonetic and phonological factors governing the realization of linguistic tone in speech have for some years been the focus of study by number of scholars and covering both tonal and non-tonal languages. While the basic effects of such factors as declination, downdrift, and downstep, among other influences, are now reasonably well understood, it is nevertheless fair to say that considerable work yet remains to be done in this area. There is also increasing interest in the relation between language and music. This issue has been approached from different perspectives, ranging from the neuropsychological to the structural. A number of studies involving tone languages have focussed on the relation between speech melody and song melody, with a basic assumption being that, presumably in order to maintain comprehensibility, song melody is subservient to that of speech (e.g. Jones, 1959). Blacking (1967) shows that in certain forms of Venda song, but not all, this is indeed the case. Leben (1983) argues that a more sophisticated analysis, one that takes into account downtrends as well as lexical tone is necessary to understand the relation between tone and tune in Hausa, and Agawu (1988) has challenge the general view arguing that, at least in Ewe, music is much less constrained by speech than studies on other languages have suggested. Mambila, a Bantoid language with four level lexical tones, presents an excellent test case for exploring the possible effects of song on linguistic tone. A number of phonetic studies of have been conducted which have revealed that pitch realization in this language appears tightly constrained, and it has been argued that this suggests F0 values for individual tones in Mambila are fairly narrowly specified. The present study focusses on pitch realization in a Mambila beer song, as performed by a native speaker of Mambila who was also a participant in several phonetic studies. The paper presents an initial view of the interaction between speech melody and song melody in Mambila through comparison of his productions in speech and song, with respect to overall pitch range used, scaling of individual tones, and the influence of adjacent tones on each other. The results of the investigation, more than simply of interest in their own right, in contributing to the debate outlined above also allow for more general conclusions to be drawn concerning the relation between language and music.
1983
Connell, Bruce; Hogan, John T.; Rozsypal, Anton J.
Experimental evidence of interaction between tone and intonation in Mandarin Chinese Journal Article
In: Journal of Phonetics, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 337-351, 1983.
@article{Connell1983,
title = {Experimental evidence of interaction between tone and intonation in Mandarin Chinese},
author = {Bruce Connell and John T. Hogan and Anton J. Rozsypal},
doi = {10.1016/S0095-4470(19)30834-4},
year = {1983},
date = {1983-10-01},
journal = {Journal of Phonetics},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {337-351},
abstract = {Determined in an experiment with 28 native Chinese speakers (aged 20–47 yrs) proficient in Mandarin how far the shape of a tone in Mandarin Chinese can be changed before it is consistently recognized as a different tone. Results show that perceptual changes in tone arose and that these changes corresponded generally with expectations based primarily on production data. The recognition of tone was stable over a wide range of pitch contour changes. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Determined in an experiment with 28 native Chinese speakers (aged 20–47 yrs) proficient in Mandarin how far the shape of a tone in Mandarin Chinese can be changed before it is consistently recognized as a different tone. Results show that perceptual changes in tone arose and that these changes corresponded generally with expectations based primarily on production data. The recognition of tone was stable over a wide range of pitch contour changes. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).