Vowel harmony and vowel merger in Agoi

Abstract

This paper describes the vowel harmony system and patterns of vowel merger in Agoi, an Upper Cross language. Data indicate that a once fully operative system of vowel harmony has now been generally restricted to the non-high vowels, with a few residual instances of II u/-determined harmony. The evolution of this change is described.

Keywords

• phonology
• vowel harmony
• Agoi
• Upper Cross