2.3. Phonemic Contrasts |
2.3.1. Vowel Contrasts |
2.3.1.1. Contrast in Length |
|
/i/ higher-front noncentralised short vowel |
/i:/ higher-front noncentralised long vowel |
|
/iru/ |
`be’ |
/i:ru/ |
`lice’ |
/nila/ |
`moon’ |
/ni:la/ |
`blue’ |
/ oppi/ |
`cap’ |
/pi:/ |
`faeces’ |
|
/e, e:/ |
|
/e/ mid-front noncentralised short vowel |
/e:/ mid-front noncentralised long vowel |
|
/eru/ |
`manure’ |
/e:ru/ |
`plough’ |
/petti/ |
`about’ |
/pe:tti/ |
`grand daughter’ |
/erume/ |
`buffalo’ |
/me:/ |
`graze’ |
|
/ë,ë:/ |
|
/ë/ mid-front centralised short vowel |
/ë:/ mid-front centralised long vowel |
|
/ë e/ |
`cave’ |
/ë: e/ |
`poor man’ |
/kë e/ |
`weed’ |
/kë: e/ |
`wild goat’ |
|