Cophonologies and upper-lower tone register mapping in Copala Triqui

Abstract

This paper examines the tone register paradigm in Copala Triqui, an Otomanguean language of Mexico. Past literature on tone register changes has attributed tonal variations to seemingly arbitrary classes. Instead, the synchronic account presented here accounts for these changes through underlying floating tones and phonological processes that occur as the result of two cophonologies tied to an upper and lower tone register.

Keywords

• tone
• trique