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The long vowels

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Here the long vowels of Afrikaans are described. See The Afrikaans Vowel System for an overview of the Afrikaans vowel system. With regards to the Dutch vowel system, refer to the topic on the nucleus in Dutch. Long vowels (and also diphthongs) occupy two structural positions (XX) in a rhyme, as shown in (i) (in an open syllable, as in see) and (ii) (in a closed syllable, as in een) (see Figure 1). See The Short Vowels for examples of syllable trees for short vowels.

In terms of distinctive features of segments, X depending on N is represented here by -cons, while X depending on C by +cons. Long vowels thus equals -cons-cons; the same applies to diphthongs.

Figure 1: Syllable trees of long vowels

[click image to enlarge]

Examples of long vowels
Nature and frequency of occurrence of the long vowels

In the following examples of the four long vowels of Afrikaans ( /o/, /e/, /a/, /ø/) are presented, indicating position in syllables (in onset or in (onset + nucleus), as well as stress. a = closed syllables and b = open syllables (i. word-initially; ii. word-medially; iii. word-finally).

[+]Examples of long vowels

In this section special attention is given to the vowels /o/, /e/, /ø/ and /a/. The examples are restricted to simplex words. Many multimorphemic, derived cases exist.

/o/

a.	oorsaak
	cause
	'or.sak

a.'	origens
	furthermore
	'o.rə.xətns

b.	behoorlik
	properly
	bə.'hor.lək

b.'	metode
	method
	mə.'to.də

c.	framboos
	raspberry
	frɑm.'bos

c.'	Karoo
	Karoo (geogr. name)
	kɑ.'ro

/e/

a.	eensaam
	alone
	'en.sam

a.'	ewig
	ever
	'e.vəx

b.	gemeente
	congregation
	xə.'men.tə

b.'	afwesig
	absent
	ɑf.'ve.səx

c.	alleen
	alone
	ɑ.'len

c.'	trofee
	trophy
	tru.'fe

/a/

a.	aambei
	hemorrhoid
	'am.bəi

a.'	arend
	eagle
	'a.rənd

b.	geraamte
	skeleton
	xə.'ram.tə

b.'	papawer
	poppy
	pɑ.'pa.vər

c.	barbaar
	barbarian
	bɑr.'bar

c.'	karba
	carba
	kɑr.'ba

/ø/

a.	deuntjie
	tune
	'døn'.ci

a.'	Europa
	Europe
	ø'.ro.pɑ

b.	geneugte
	delight
	xə.'nøx.tə

b.'	sigeuner
	gypsy
	si.'xø.'nər

c.	museum
	museum
	my.'zøm

c.'	adieu
	adieu
	ɑ.'dø

As was stated elsewhere, /i/, /y/ and /u/ are not included here, as is the case with Dutch; (Le Roux and Pienaar 1927; De Villiers 1949; Coetzee 1982; Combrink and De Stadler 1987; Wissing 2014). Also keep in mind the motivation in The Short Vowels for acceptance of short /ɑ/ instead of long /a/ in open syllables, especially in word-final position. Central to this is the rejection of the notion of ambisyllabicity. Also see Aarts (1994)

Note that /a/ is the only long vowel considered as a true monophthong. As is the case in Dutch, the other three long vowels /e/, /o/, /ø/ are very generally, though not exclusively, realised as semi-diphthongs in the case of Afrikaans ( [iə], [uə] and [yə]), with off-glides in the region of schwa. In some non-standard varieties, such as those heard in the northern regions of Namakwaland, Northern Cape, it is more readily heard as monophthongs. Apart from the phonetic evidence, there is sufficient phonological reasons for accepting these three long vowels as underlying monophthongs. This is why we transcribe them as monophthongs, as is generally being done for the same vowels in the case of Dutch and Frisian. It could, however, be a possibility for these three vowels to, over time, develop into a separate set of primary phonemic diphthongs, viz. /iə/, /uə/, /yə/, replacing the standard set of long mid vowels /e/, /o/ and /ø/.

[+]Nature and frequency of occurrence of the long vowels

In contrast to the other positions, all of the long vowels lack frequency in open, word final position. This is in contrast to the frequent most common word-final open syllable occurrence of some of the short vowels, especially /ə/ and /ɑ/, but also /i/ and /u/, that both is considered to be long in the case of Dutch, and Afrikaans. This fact strongly serves as extra motivation for deeming /i/ and /u/ as being short.

Long vowels in unstressed position frequently reduce in either duration or vowel quality, or both. This is taken care of elaborately elsewhere, where these phonological processes are handled. Here are some examples:

Shortening: Afrika /'a.fri.ka/ Africa becomes /ɑ.fri.'kans/ Afrikaans (first syllable).
Reduction to schwa: Namib /'na.məp/ Namib (place name) becomes /'nə.'mi.bi.(j)ə/.
Vowel heightening (and at the same time shortening): eties /'e.tis/ ethic becomes /i.'tik/ methodology (first syllable).

Pretoria /pre.'to.ri.(j)ɑ/ place name becomes /pri.'tor.jɑ/.

For more on vowel reduction see Vowel reduction. Consult also Segment inventory for more on the Afrikaans long vowels.

References

Aarts, Bas1994The syntax of binominal noun phrases in EnglishDutch Working Papers in English Language and Linguistics301-28
Coetzee, A.E1982Fonetiek vir eerstejaars.Academica
Combrink, J.G.H. & De Stadler, L.G1987Afrikaanse fonologie.Macmillan
De Villiers, M1949Die Afrikaanse foneme: (I) Die Afrikaanse vokale; (II) Die Afrikaanse konsonante.Tydskrif vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Nuwe reeks979-93,
Le Roux, T.H. & Pienaar, P. de V1927Afrikaanse fonetiek.Juta
Wissing, D2014Fonetiek.Bundels

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About this article

Author(s): Daan Wissing

Category: Afrikaans Phonology

Keywords: long vowels

Version: 1.0, May 2020

Version history:

version	editor(s)	date	remarks
1.0	Daan Wissing	May 2020

This is a beta version.

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