LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 10 : 8 August 2010
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         K. Karunakaran, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.

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Semantic Variations of Punjabi Toneme

Muhammad Shaban Rafi, M.Phil.

Abstract

This study highlights that Punjabi spoken in the suburbs of Lahore is loosing its tonality to mark semantic variations. This study based on numerical data examines: (a) whether or not Punjabi (spoken in Pakistani Punjab) is spoken with its tonal features (level, fall and rise pitch), and (b) Do Punjabi speakers perceive semantic variations of Punjabi tonal words (Kora, Cha and Kera)?

Acoustic and perceptual data were elicited from 20 Punjabi speakers between 20 to 22 years old, belonging to the suburbs of Lahore, the Punjab. Tonal words: Kora, Cha and Kera with their conventional semantic variations were manipulated at three different positions: Phrase Initial, Phrase Medial and Phrase Final in 27 phrases in order to neutralize effects of stress. Similarly, to neutralize effects of intonation, these tonal words were also recorded in the form of statement and question.

Phonetic analysis and sound manipulations were performed with the help of PRAAT, speech processing tool designed for windows users. Results illustrate that the above mentioned Punjabi tonal words are overwhelmingly articulated with fall pitch and they are perceived with marginal pitch variations in a discourse. Instead of using their phonological knowledge to perceive pitch variations, the Punjabi speakers activate their pragmatic knowledge to entail different meaning of tonal words.

Keywords: Punjabi Language, Semantic variations, Tone, Pitch

Introduction

Many languages of South-East Asia and Africa are tone languages. Punjabi is considered to be one of the tonal languages of Indo-Iranian family. These languages use pitch (the perceived 'height' of the human voice, depending on the rapidity of the vibration of the vocal cords) to signal difference in meaning between words (Avery and Susan, 1992; Ladefoged, 2000). These pitch variations are an important part of language, just as stress and phonotactics in a language. In tonal languages, pitch marks lexical realization of at least some morphemes.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Ethnic Relations and the Media - A Study of the Malaysian Situation | Lexical Borrowing: A Study of Punjabi and Urdu Kinship Terms | Novel as Contemporary Indian History - A Glimpse of Works by Manohar Malgonkar,
His Contemporaries, and Precursors | Gender Issues in Teacher Training Materials of ELTIS (English Language Training for Islamic Schools) - A Study from Indonesia | Mind Your Vocabulary! | Semantic Variations of Punjabi Toneme | Contemporary Indian Women Writing in English and the Problematics of the Indian Middle Class | Thought Boundary Detection in English Text through the 'Law of Conservation of thought' for Word Sense Disambiguation | Theme of Isolation in the Select Works of Canadian Women Playwrights | Developing an ESP Course for Students of Applied Sciences in Pakistan | Socio-cultural Context of Communication in Indian Novel - A Pragmatic Approach to Inside the Haveli | Socio-cultural Context of Communication in Indian Novel - A Pragmatic Approach to Inside the Haveli | An Overview of Face and Politeness | Technical Language Lab and CALL - A Descriptive Report | Teaching Composition to Adult Learners of ESL - Strategically Bridging Learner Deficiency and Metacognitive Proficiency through Emotional Intelligence - A Case Study of Indian and Libyan Situations | A Comparison of Students' Achievement in the Subject of English - A Pakistani Context | Code Switching and Code Mixing in Arab Students - Some Implications | A Descriptive Analysis of Diminishing Linguistic Taboos in Pakistan | "Who's that Guy?" - A Discourse Representation of Social Actors in a Death | Contributions of Anna to Tamil Culture and Literature | Ignorance - A Maiden Spoilsport in Thomas Hardy | Classical Language Issues for Teulugu and Kannada | A PRINT VERSION OF ALL THE PAPERS OF AUGUST 2010 ISSUE IN BOOK FORMAT. This document is better viewed if you open it online and then save it in your computer. After saving it in your computer, you can easily read all the pages from the saved document. | HOME PAGE of August 2010 Issue | HOME PAGE | CONTACT EDITOR

Muhammad Shaban Rafi, M.Phil.
Department of Applied Linguistics
University of Management and Technology
C-II, Johar Town
Lahore, Pakistan
shabanrafi@hotmail.com

 
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