Labial-Palatalization and Tone: A Critical Overview in Akuapem Phonology

Abstract

: This paper addresses the labial-palatalization process in Akuapem, a dialect of Akan. In this paper, we study the labial-palatalization, and the tonal processes related to the verbal prefix b ɛ when cliticized to reduplicative verbs in the Akuapem dialect of Akan. Based on labial-palatalization, it is not all the Akuapem dialect that labial-palatalizes a C in a CUa/e string that triggers the labial-palatalization process. The study also concluded that when the verbal prefix or the modal marker b ɛ is cliticized to reduplicated class I verbs, all the reduplicant and the base form of the verb assume different tonal melody in all the sub-dialect of Akuapem.