Article

Name: Stress in the Barabian language

Authors: Tatyana R. Ryzhikova

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

This study marks the first investigation into the phonetic features of stress in the Barabian language, using a substantial body of experimental acoustic findings. As observed in the majority of Turkic languages, stress in Barabian most frequently falls on the final syllable and progressively shifts toward the end of the word during suffixation. However, the analysis identifies a specific set of affixes that trigger atypical stress placement. Following the phonetic framework of L. R. Zinder, this study distinguishes between dynamic stress (intensity) and force stress (articulatory tension). The distribution of intensity within a word cannot be considered a reliable correlate of Barabian stress, primarily because strict phonological rules governing its distribution have not been formulated. Stress and intonation share similarities in their tonal qualities because they both function at the suprasegmental level and occur together within a spoken phrase. The stressed syllable in Barabian is characterized not by a simple rise or fall in the fundamental frequency but rather by a distinctive “break” in tone direction. The vocal system of Barabian comprises only nine vowel phonemes, contrasted by backness and height, with length not being a distinguishing factor. Nonetheless, “positional lengthening” does happen, a characteristic feature found in various Siberian Turkic languages. Given that vowel length does not possess phonemic status and is only manifested under particular phonetic circumstances, it cannot function as a stress correlate. Based on these findings, it is concluded that stress in the Barabian language is bound, mobile, weakly centralized, and tonal regarding a directional tone break.

Keywords: stress, intensity, vowel length, fundamental frequency, suprasegmental phonetics, Turkic languages, the Barabian language

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