Abstract
M.A. (Afrikaans)
The phenomenon of juncture has been observed and explained by various
linguists. Bloch and Trager (1942), for example, refers to juncture as
"(p)henomena relating to the way in which sounds are joined together".
The study of juncture may therefore be viewed as the study of the
phonological phenomena where two structural units of language are joined
together.
In studying the extensive literature on the subject, it was found that
juncture is explained within different theoretical frameworks by different
linguistic schools. To design an adequate framework for the description
of this phenomenon in Afrikaans, an eclectic approach was
followed. This theoretical framework was deemed valid, if the
phenomenon of juncture could be predicted by formal rules to cover as
wide a range as possible.
The structuralists' approach of treating juncture as a phoneme was not
utilised, as they focus on grammatical considerations to determine
juncture. However, their use of either segmental or supra segmental
phonological features was adopted. The Transformational Generative
Phonology devised formal procedures for the description of juncture,
which were deemed adequate especially for the distinction between
morpheme and word boundaries. Rules from the morphological component,
and the function of the syllable, developed by the Natural Generative
Phonology, were also exploited in the present study.
The field of study for the Afrikaans language was viewed as the regular,
predictable, change of sound which takes place between two consecutive
structural units of meaning, The purpose of the present study was to
research the phenomenon of juncture over as wide a terrain as possible
and to integrate diverse phenomena into one formal description.
In reviewing studies done on this phenomenon for the Afrikaans language,
it was found that the description, in some cases, was inadequate. It
also came to light that certain terrain had not been covered.
Where possible, the adequacy of existing descriptions was acknowledged
and utilised. In some cases, adaptions were made, for example with
regard to assimilation, gemination, the variation between b/p, d/t, v/f
and x/g, and the formation of plurals and diminutives. In other instances,
new rules had to be formulated to accurately predict the
occurrence of juncture, for example the variation between /t/ - /s/,
/d/ - /s/ and /k - /s/ in words of Greek or Roman original.